Metro Manila, Philippines – Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez has denied using the Discayas as a front in the purchase of a posh property, dismissing claims linking him to contractors at the center of the flood control corruption scandal.
“Rep. Romualdez has no knowledge nor involvement in the purported transaction,” Ade Fajardo, lawyer and spokesperson for the former House Speaker, said in a statement on Wednesday, Jan. 14.
“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,” he added.
In a Kapihan sa Senado media forum earlier that day, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said the blue ribbon committee which he chairs will look into “persistent reports” alleging that Romualdez acquired a house and lot in an upscale Makati subdivision through the Discayas.
“If verified to be true, this could possibly establish a direct connection between the former speaker and the Discayas,” Lacson said, adding that it could indicate a level of trust suggesting the possibility of other transactions.
“I’m not saying na cast in stone na talagang involved na talaga si former speaker [that the former speaker is involved]. At least we have something to start with,” he said.
Lacson said the committee may invite the former owner of the property to testify during the hearing scheduled for Monday, Jan. 19.
Romualdez’s camp also pointed out that Curlee Discaya himself has denied any direct transaction with the lawmaker, suggesting Romualdez’s name may have been invoked without his knowledge.
Lacson likewise acknowledged that Orly Guteza, the only witness to have directly implicated Romualdez so far, has yet to surface.
Meanwhile, Lacson challenged Sen. Imee Marcos to attend Monday’s hearing amid her claims that she and other senators were being barred from discussing Romualdez during the proceedings.
Marcos, for her part, appeared to reject the call, expressing doubts that she would be given the opportunity to speak at the hearing.
