Usap-usapan ang isang open letter na naka-post sa social media na humihikayat kay Leyte 1st District Representative at House Speaker Martin Romualdez na bumaba na sa kaniyang puwesto sa House of Representatives (HOR).
Sa Facebook post noong Setyembre 12, layunin umano ng nabanggit na bukas na liham na ipaabot kay Romualdez ang panawagan sa kaniya ng undersigned Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at Philippine National Police (PNP) retired officers, UP Vanguards, at "concerned Filipino citizens and taxpayers," ang pagde-demand nilang magbitiw na siya sa tungkulin bilang "Congressman of the First District of Leyte and Speaker of the House of Representatives."
Nagbigay ng apat na dahilan ang mga nabanggit kung bakit kinakailangan na raw mag-resign ni Romualdez.
"1. With ₱15.589 trillion national government debt as of August 2024, you do not care at all if the Philippine government would become bankrupt, sooner or later, because you have recommended a ₱6.352 trillion budget for 2025 against a 2025 projected supportable national revenue of ₱4.64 trillion according to Finance Secretary Rafael Recto, or a deficit of ₱1.712 trillion."
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"2. You squandered ₱26.7 billion from the AKAP of DSWD on a fake People’s Initiative to unnecessarily change the Philippine Constitution."
"3. You failed to safeguard our taxes against corruption that eats about 20% of our annual budget. Briefly, the 2025 national budget would be less than the 2024 national budget if there were no corruption in the government. Furthermore, there is no attempt on your part to remove the label of Congress as “The Philippines’ biggest criminal syndicate,” according to BizNews Asia."
"4. Aside from a report of your multi-million dollar donation to Harvard University, there are reports of your alleged buying spree here and abroad including a 20% ownership of EEI costing ₱1.25 billion."
Kaya naman, panawagan nila, "Under your leadership in the House of Representatives, you have been spending the taxpayers’ money (paid by our blood, sweat, and tears), as if you owned the Philippine government."
"Based on the foregoing observations, we want you out of the House of Representatives. NOW!" dagdag pa nila.
Habang isinusulat ang artikulong ito, wala pang pahayag si Romualdez patungkol sa open letter na ibinahagi ni Dela Rosa.
Matatandaang isa si Romualdez sa mga mambabatas na pinangalanan ng kontraktor na si Curlee Discaya na tumatanggap umano ng porsyento sa pondo ng mga kontrata sa maanomalyang flood control projects.
“Karamihan sa mga kawani ng DPWH na nabanggit sa itaas ay paulit-ulit na binabanggit ang delivery ng pera ay para kay Zaldy Co, na dapat ay at least 25%,” ani Discaya sa pagdinig sa Senado noong Setyembre 8.
Saad pa niya, “Si Cong. Marvin Rillo naman ay ilang beses binabanggit ang pangalan ni Speaker Martin Romualdez bilang kaniyang malalapit na kaibigan.”
KAUGNAY NA BALITA: Ilang DPWH officials, pumuporsyento sa mga Discaya para umano kina Romualdez at Co
Itinanggi naman ni Romualdez ang mga naging paratang ng mga Discaya, sa kaparehong petsa, sa pamamagitan ng inilabas na opisyal na pahayag.
"The claim in the Discaya couple's affidavit that my name was used for commissions is false, malicious, and nothing more than name-dropping. Let me be clear: Wala akong kinalaman, wala akong pahintulot, at wala akong basbas sa mga ganyang gawain."
Dagdag pa niya, "And I say this with all honesty: I have never, and I will never, accept a bribe from anybody. Walang sinuman ang kayang manuhol sa akin. Alam iyan ng lahat ng House Members. I am self-made, and I have been blessed with the trust of the Filipino people. I do not need—and will never allow myself—to be corrupted by money that does not belong to me."
KAUGNAY NA BALITA: Romualdez sa alegasyong nakatanggap siya ng komisyon sa flood control projects: 'Nobody can bribe me. I am self-made'
Nicole Therise Marcelo and Richard de Leon
