SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Monday strongly denied allegations made by Vice President Sara Duterte linking him to illegal gambling and supposed deliveries of cash, describing the claims as baseless and fabricated.
“Naririnig ko ang mga akusasyon. Diretsahan kong sasabihin: hindi totoo na ako’y tumatanggap mula sa ilegal na sugal,” Romualdez said.
The former Speaker branded the stories about alleged “suitcases of cash” as outright inventions meant to smear his name.
“These stories about ‘suitcases of cash’ are pure fiction. Lahat guni-guni. Madaling magturo, madaling mag-imbento — pero ang katotohanan, hindi kayang patunayan. Until today, wala pa ring ipinakitang ebidensya — puro sabi-sabi lang na inuulit-ulit,” he stressed.
On allegations linking him to the Okada/Delaware dispute, Romualdez was categorical:
“Sa isyung Okada/Delaware, malinaw: hindi ako kasali, hindi ako iniimbestigahan, at hindi ako akusado. Wala akong kinalaman sa kasong iyon, na away ng dalawang negosyo. Binabalik lang ngayon para siraan ako.”
Romualdez also hit back at the source of the allegations, saying it was unfortunate that the Vice President herself—facing her own political troubles—was spreading such “lies.”
“Nakakalungkot na ang mismong Bise Presidente, na inakusahan at na-impeached ng House dahil sa maling paggamit ng pondo, ay siya pang nagkakalat ng ganitong kasinungalingan. When the source itself has lost credibility, why should anyone believe these baseless claims?” Romualdez said.
