ACIDRE DISMISSES CLAIMS ROMUALDEZ CONTROLS BUDGET PROCESS

Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre dismissed claims linking former House Speaker Martin Romualdez to the alleged flood control projects corruption scandal, saying it is “baloney” to label him the mastermind.

Acidre also said the Office of the Ombudsman’s assertion that Romualdez had “functional control” over the national budget process was an overreach, noting that the budget goes through multiple stages involving both chambers of Congress, the executive branch, and the President’s approval.

He stressed that no single official can control the entire process, and that accountability must be based on evidence and the specific role of each actor in the budget cycle.

Citing budget figures, he pointed out that Senate amendments to the DPWH budget were significantly larger than those from the House, further questioning claims that the lower chamber was the center of the controversy.

He added that accusations should be grounded in facts rather than assumptions about institutional power.

Source: PhilNews24 | June 1, 2026