Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno of Antipolo City on Monday welcomed the statement of Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Sen. Ping Lacson that there is no evidence implicating former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez to the flood control controversy.
Puno, the National Unity Party (NUP) chairman, stressed that accountability must always be grounded on facts and due process.
He said Lacson’s remarks serve as a clear reminder that investigations cannot move forward on conjecture, political pressure, or unsubstantiated claims.
“Senator Lacson made it very clear that the Senate can only follow where the evidence leads. In this case, The Deputy Speaker noted that the statement, aired over dzBB, reinforces the long-standing principle that due process—not insinuation—must prevail in any inquiry conducted by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee,” the lawmaker said.
Lacson, in the interview, pointed out that no witness has directly implicated Romualdez except Orly Guteza, whose testimony has not been substantiated and who failed to surface before proper authorities to affirm his claims under oath at the Senate last year.
Puno also took note of Lacson’s categorical denial that any pressure was exerted on him or by Malacañang to block the inquiry, saying such claims only distract from the real work of institutions.
“Senator Lacson categorically rejected those allegations and those of us who know him can confirm that pressure would not work on him,” Puno said.
The Deputy Speaker called on all sides to allow investigations to proceed objectively, including those on incumbent Senators, and without partisan motives.
“Public discourse should be guided by evidence and fairness,” Puno said. “When there is no proof, everyone should stop turning serious issues into political theater.”
