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Delon Porcalla - The Philippine Star
January 26, 2026 | 12:00am
Pedestrians cross on a makeshift pathway along P. Burgos Street in Manila as gutter-deep floodwaters cover the road following a heavy downpour on September 6, 2025.
Noel Pabalate / The Philippine STAR
MANILA, Philippines — House committee on good government and public accountability chair Rep. Joel Chua yesterday requested the Senate to refrain from what he described as “trial by headlines” in their inquiry into the flood control controversy.
“Repeating a claim does not strengthen it – evidence does. Due process protects the innocent as much as it punishes the guilty,” Chua said.
Chua said public proceedings should “focus on establishing facts and improving accountability, rather than repeating allegations that are not supported by documents or sworn testimony.”
He said the same standard should apply to allegations involving former House speaker Martin Romualdez.
Lawyer Ade Fajardo, who serves as counsel and spokesperson for Romualdez, brushed aside allegations aired in a Senate hearing and pointed to the testimony of contractor Curlee Discaya that contradicted claims by two Senate witnesses (Joy and Marie) that Discaya approached anyone there or issued instructions linked to the property.
“The allegations aired in the Senate are logically and physically impossible,” Fajardo said. “Curlee Discaya testified under oath that he has never entered South Forbes Park, making it impossible for him to have approached anyone there or issued any instruction.”
Chua thanked Sen. Panfilo Lacson, chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, for his recent statement acknowledging that there is not enough evidence to implicate Romualdez in the flood-control scam.
Chua said that when evidence exists, it should be presented and examined through proper legal and institutional processes, but cautioned against naming people in public forums in the absence of proof.
