Tingog Partylist Representative Jude Acidre welcomed the denial of government contractor Curlee Discaya over allegations that he acted as a front for former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez in the supposed purchase of an upscale property in Makati City.
Acidre said, “Mr. Discaya’s denial is a welcome development that underscores the need for evidence-based discourse and may help stem the spread of unfounded allegations against those being named without proof.”
Discaya himself rejected the claim, saying, “is not true! I have only seen the former Speaker in person once, and we didn’t even talk because he was talking to someone else.”
He added that he is willing to “own up” to the property so it can be included in the Anti-Money Laundering Council’s asset review.
Acidre emphasized that, “Investigations serve the public best when they rely on verified records and clear testimony. Repeating claims without proof only muddies the waters. If there is evidence, present it. If there is none, we owe it to the public—and to the people being named—to stop the noise.”
Romualdez, through his lawyer Ade Fajardo, also denied the allegation, stating, “Rep. Romualdez has not met the Discayas and has only heard of them based on what is being said in media reports. As such, the claim in the report about using the Discayas as a front in a property purchase is outright baseless.”