The camp of former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez on Friday rejected allegations linking him as the alleged “mastermind” behind the controversial flood control projects scandal.
Lawyer Elaine Atienza, spokesperson for Romualdez, disputed claims from the Office of the Ombudsman suggesting that the former Speaker exercised “functional control” over the national budget process.
“We take exception to the recent public pronouncement suggesting that Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez was the mastermind of the flood control scheme because he, as Speaker of the House at the time, supposedly had ‘functional control’ over the budget process,” Atienza said.
She stressed that no single official has absolute control over the preparation and approval of the national budget.
“Linawin po natin: there is no such thing as ‘functional control’ over the budget process.”
Atienza argued that accountability should be anchored on concrete evidence rather than assumptions based on a person’s position in government.
“Accountability must be based on evidence, not theory or opinion. It must be based on what a person actually did, not what people assume his title allowed him to do.”
Citing the Department of Budget and Management’s framework, Atienza explained that the national budget goes through several stages, including preparation, authorization, implementation and accountability, with the executive branch initially crafting the National Expenditure Program before Congress deliberates on it.
“Sa madaling sabi, ang national budget ay hindi ginagawa ng iisang tao, iisang opisina, o iisang institusyon lamang. Dumadaan po ito sa isang mahaba, masusi, at multi-layered na proseso.”
She further emphasized that the House Speaker does not possess authority to dictate the outcome of the budget process.
“Hindi ito hawak ng iisang opisina lamang, at lalong hindi ito kayang diktahan o kontrolin ng House Speaker.”
Atienza also warned against distorting public understanding of how government budgeting works.
“Wag po nating baluktutin ang katotohanan.”
According to the Romualdez camp, the Speaker of the House has no power to direct senators, the President or other institutions involved in approving the national budget.
“Wala pong kakayahan ang Speaker na diktahan ang mga Senador, ang Pangulo, o ang sinuman sa proseso ng pagpasa ng budget. Having said that, nais din po naming ulitin: hindi ang mga mambabatas ang nagre-release ng pondo.”
Atienza added that lawmakers do not implement infrastructure projects nor certify whether completed works are legitimate or defective.
“Hindi rin sila ang nag-i-implement ng proyekto. At mas lalong hindi mambabatas o ang mismong Speaker of the House ang nag-i-inspect at nagce-certify na tapos na ang isang proyektong ghost naman pala.”
She also noted that the Senate prepares its own version of the budget measure, which later undergoes bicameral deliberations before being submitted to the President for approval.
The Romualdez camp urged the public and authorities to exercise fairness and restraint in discussing the allegations.
“We therefore call for sobriety, fairness, and fidelity to the rules. Sweeping public pronouncements that point to Rep. Romualdez as the grand architect of a collegial and multi-faceted process involving the Executive, the House and the Senate do not help the search for truth,” she said.