Romualdez denies using contractors as ‘dummies’

Romualdez denies using contractors as ‘dummies’ | Daily Tribune

Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez on Wednesday dismissed as “outright baseless” reports alleging he used contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya as fronts for the purchase of a luxury property in Makati.

The lawmaker’s spokesperson, Ade Fajardo, said Romualdez has “no knowledge nor involvement” in the transaction. The allegation is expected to be part of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s agenda when it resumes its probe into a multibillion-peso flood control scandal on Monday.

“Representative Romualdez has not met the Discayas and has only heard of them based on what is being said in media reports,” Fajardo said. “The claim about using the Discayas as a front in a property purchase is outright baseless.”

The controversy stems from the activities of the Discayas, a couple whose construction firms — now closed — bagged numerous government infrastructure projects. During a Senate hearing last September, Curlee Discaya alleged that 19 lawmakers, including Romualdez and former Representative Elizaldy Co, received commissions ranging from 10 to 25 percent for flood control contracts.

Discaya originally claimed the kickbacks were coursed through a middleman to Romualdez and Co, who served as the House appropriations chairperson in the previous Congress. However, in a subsequent House investigation, Discaya amended his testimony under oath, stating he had “no direct transaction” with Romualdez.

He suggested other officials might have been using the speaker’s name to gain leverage.

“Let us be reminded that allegations cannot override testimony given under oath,” Fajardo said. “Facts cannot be replaced by speculation.”

Romualdez has previously denied all accusations of bribery, describing them as “false” and “malicious” and asserting that he is “self-made.”

Fajardo added that Romualdez remains confident that any evidence-based inquiry will clear his name, noting that the contractor’s sworn statement denying direct dealings is already part of the official congressional record.