By Ivy Tejano
DAVAO CITY – Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte on Tuesday, October 14, slammed as “the biggest joke of the century” reports that former House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez might be a state witness in the multibillion-peso flood control corruption investigation.
“So now, Congressman Martin Romualdez will supposedly become a state witness? Biggest joke of the century,” Duterte said in a statement, questioning how Romualdez, whom he described as “at the top of the funding chains,” could testify against others in the alleged anomaly.
“You mean to tell the Filipino people that the one sitting at the top of the funding chains, whose name is whispered in every Department of Public Works and Highways regional office, will suddenly turn state witness — against whom, exactly? Himself?” he added.
Duterte said the public should not be treated as fools, arguing that someone allegedly involved in the supposed flood control scam could not credibly serve as a witness. He likened the situation to “a crocodile testifying against its kind—but only after it had finished feeding.”
The Davao lawmaker also criticized the administration’s handling of the controversy, saying the Department of Justice would expose the depth of systemic corruption if such an arrangement were allowed.
“If the DOJ permits this, it’s clear — the problem is not just floods in this country, but the drowning of the government’s conscience,” Duterte said. He also swiped at Malacañang, accusing the administration of turning its anti-corruption drive into “a comedy series.”
“So what’s next? The mastermind becomes the witness, the witnesses become the suspects, and the people — as always — become the fools,” Duterte said.
The Davao lawmaker added that the country had become “the butt of jokes in the international community,” citing the scale of alleged corruption and the government’s supposed attempts to shield influential figures.
“Is this how stupid this administration thinks the Filipino people are? The ship is sinking and sinking fast — but the culprits cannot answer because they are in power,” Duterte said.
Malacañang said it would be up to the DOJ to determine whether Romualdez qualifies as a state witness in the ongoing investigation.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Romualdez’s possible inclusion would depend on the substance of his testimony and the DOJ’s evaluation of the information he could provide.
Romualdez appeared Monday before the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, created under Executive Order No. 94 signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., to investigate alleged irregularities in flood mitigation projects.
The Leyte lawmaker has vowed full cooperation with the probe and denied previous accusations linking him to the fund anomalies.
Duterte, however, said such gestures were not enough to clear public suspicion. “In this flood of corruption they created — there is no mercy, no fear, and no shame,” he said.
