Metro Manila, Philippines – Two witnesses are set to testify on controversial contractor Curlee Discaya’s role in Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez’s property purchase, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said, in a move that could link the former House speaker to the Discaya couple at the center of the flood control corruption scandal.
Lacson, chairman of the blue ribbon committee, said the witnesses were invited and are expected to attend the resumption of the Senate’s flood control probe on Monday, Jan. 19. He added that they have begun drafting affidavits.
“Totoo yung sinasabi na hindi naman nakapangalan kay Curlee Discaya yung bahay pero merong magtetestify… Magbibigay sila ng detalye kung ano ‘yung naging role ni Discaya tungkol doon sa bilihan ng bahay,” Lacson told ‘The Newsmaker’ on Friday, Jan. 16.
[Translation: It is true that the house was not registered under Curlee Discaya’s name, but there are witnesses who will testify… They will provide details on what role Discaya played in the purchase of the house.]
In a Kapihan sa Senado media forum earlier this week, Lacson said the committee will investigate “persistent reports” alleging that Romualdez acquired a house and lot in an upscale Makati subdivision using the Discayas as fronts.
He said that if proven true, it could establish a direct connection between Romualdez and the Discayas and suggest a level of trust that might indicate other undisclosed transactions.
Romualdez has denied any knowledge of or involvement in the alleged transaction and dismissed claims linking him to the Discayas, maintaining that he has never met them in person.
When asked if Romualdez had been invited to Monday’s hearing, Lacson said he was not.
“Hindi na namin inimbita si Speaker Romualdez kasi nga noong una hindi na siya dumalo [We did not invite Speaker Romualdez because he did not attend the previous hearing],” he said.
Lacson referred to a previous invitation for Romualdez to attend the flood control hearing, sent through the House of Representatives, amid multiple allegations against him. He emphasized that lawmakers cannot be compelled to attend legislative inquiries, citing parliamentary courtesy.
Orly Guteza, the only witness to directly implicate Romualdez – claiming he delivered suitcases of cash from the residences of former House appropriations committee chair Zaldy Co to Romualdez’s residence – has been subpoenaed to appear at Monday’s hearing.
Lacson said there is no indication so far that Guteza will attend, as he has not surfaced since his explosive testimony against Romualdez in September.
