Stalled Senate flood control probe unlikely to get Romualdez in hot seat

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April 27, 2026 | 5:49pm

MANILA, Philippines — Despite calls for former House Speaker Martin Romualdez to testify in the Senate's flood control investigation, blue ribbon committee chair Sen. Ping Lacson says it is unlikely the president's cousin will do so after already ignoring two invitations to appear before the panel.

Lacson said the committee cannot force Romualdez to show up, in a direct response to Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, who claimed Romualdez was ready to spill what he knows of those who made a killing from flood control funds.

Romualdez was invited by the Senate blue ribbon committee in November 2025 and January this year. He did not attend either hearing. 

Lacson pointed to the familiar "inter-parliamentary courtesy" that generally bars one chamber of Congress from summoning members of the others. 

"Kaya nga time-honored tradition ang tawag. Hindi pa rin ba pumapasok sa bumbunan niya yun?" Lacson said of Marcoleta.

His remarks speak to the limits of a whirlwind Senate probe that has so far heard eight hearings' worth of testimony about ghost projects and rigged contracts, but cannot compel the former House speaker to show up.

Lacson said Sunday he still wants a confrontation between Romualdez, fugitive former lawmaker Zaldy Co, and the ex-soldiers who claimed they delivered kickback money on Co's orders.

Whether Romualdez accepts a third invitation is up to him, Lacson added.

Privilege speech amid deadlock

Lacson announced Monday that he will present the committee's findings through a privilege speech when the Senate resumes in May. 

The panel's partial report has been stuck since February with only six of the nine signatures required to reach the Senate floor. 

Lacson alleged some majority senators were asked to withhold their signatures. Sen. Imee Marcos has said she will not sign until there is a "full investigation."

Hearings have been suspended since April 15. 

Lacson said the privilege speech would make the findings a public record, allowing the committee to share its evidence with the Office of the Ombudsman, which has informally requested a copy. "Sayang kasi — para mapakinabangan ang evidence kaysa mapanis lang," Lacson said.

On April 21, Romualdez broke months of silence with an 11-minute video denying he masterminded the alleged P56-billion kickback scheme. "I will not go quietly, and I will not go alone. I will not be the fall guy for other people's corruption," he said.