Manila (September 29, 2029) – Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Tuesday alleged that former House Speaker and Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez was the driving force behind the impeachment complaint filed against Vice President Sara Duterte.
According to Escudero, the complaint was part of a calculated move by Romualdez to push for the early release of congressional funds categorized under “for later release” (FLR) ahead of the 2025 elections. He further claimed that Romualdez invoked both the FLR system and the name of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to pressure legislators into backing what the senator described as an unconstitutional initiative.
Escudero stressed that Romualdez was fully aware the Senate would not be able to deliberate on the case until June, yet pushed the move nonetheless. He added that the Supreme Court has since validated the Senate’s position by declaring the complaint unconstitutional.
“I simply fulfilled my duty and stood by what was right,” Escudero said, while lamenting that the Senate has already been subjected to attacks allegedly orchestrated by Romualdez in retaliation.
The controversy adds to the mounting political rift between the House of Representatives and the Senate, as accusations of fund misuse and political maneuvering continue to stir divisions within Congress.
