Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez on Tuesday denied any involvement in the alleged corruption tied to the 2025 national budget, asserting he had no role in key deliberations and pointing to other political figures as central to the process.
In a statement released April 21, Romualdez said corruption of such magnitude, which concerns the billions worth of flood control projects and others, could not be carried out by a single individual, stressing that it would require decisions made during budget deliberations as well as execution on the ground.
“Corruption of this scale is not a one-man operation. It requires budget decisions and implementation on the ground,” he said.
Romualdez maintained he had no role in the detailed discussions that shaped the final version of the budget, saying he was not part of the bicameral conference committee or smaller groups that handled closed-door deliberations where amendments and insertions are typically introduced.
“I was not a part of the BICAM and the small committee budget deliberations,” he said, adding that while he was informed of general outcomes, he had no visibility into specific provisions approved during the process.
He pointed to former Senate President Chiz Escudero and former congressman Zaldy Co as “instrumental” in making key budget decisions, suggesting their roles should be examined as part of any investigation.
Romualdez also said that once the national budget becomes law, the responsibility for implementing projects — including flood control works often flagged in corruption probes — lies with the executive branch, particularly agencies such as the Department of Public Works and Highways, not legislators.
He acknowledged public anger over the alleged misuse of government funds, noting that public money comes from taxpayers and demands accountability. He urged the Office of the Ombudsman and investigators to rely on sworn testimonies and credible evidence in determining liability.
“Accountability cannot be selective,” he said, calling for equal scrutiny of all individuals identified in affidavits or official records tied to the alleged irregularities.
Romualdez said he had remained silent for months out of respect for legal processes, but decided to speak out as accusations intensified, which he described as politically motivated and fabricated.
Escudero has yet to respond to the allegations, while Co is reportedly in custody in the Czech Republic after entering without proper documentation, according to President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr..
The government said efforts are underway to return Co to the Philippines following arrest warrants issued by the Sandiganbayan over multiple cases.
