SENATOR Chiz Escudero on Monday accused Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez of orchestrating a “sarswela,” a term referring to a theatrical diversion, to deflect public attention from House lawmakers allegedly involved in flood control anomalies.
In a privilege speech, Escudero argued that witnesses in recent hearings were consistently name-dropping senators despite a lack of direct evidence linking them to the alleged scams. He suggested this was a deliberate tactic to shift the focus away from the House of Representatives.
“All these are meant to nail the senator in media and in public and to move the attention away from the House of Representatives,” Escudero stated. “Why? Is it because the senators are the bigger fish, their positions are higher, and they are more well known than the congressmen?” He further asserted that House members believe that by implicating senators, they can ease public anger and escape accountability for their alleged involvement in flood control projects.
Escudero directly implicated Romualdez, stating, “There’s only one person behind this script and ‘sarswela.'” He questioned why Romualdez’s name was not being mentioned in the House of Representatives, the Senate, or in some media outlets, before explicitly stating, “Then, I will say it: Martin Romualdez.”
metrosundaily
