Davao City First District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte on Tuesday slammed as “the biggest joke of the century” reports that Leyte Representative and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez may be tapped as a state witness in the ongoing investigation into the alleged misuse of billions of pesos in flood control funds.
In a strongly worded statement, Duterte questioned how Romualdez — whom he described as being “at the top of the funding chain” — could now be positioned as a witness rather than a suspect in the controversy.
“So, mao na ni karon — ‘State witness’ kuno si Congressman Martin Romualdez? Biggest joke of the century. Giunsa na ni? Ilaglag nimo ang Presidente, pamangkin nimo, ug mga tuta nimo mismo? Or mag-imbento na pud mo’g storya para malihis ang istorya sa inyo ug kamo maluwas? Murag teleserye nga comedy,” Duterte said.
“You mean to tell the Filipino people that the one sitting at the top of the funding chains, the one whose name is whispered in every DPWH regional office, will suddenly turn state witness — against who, exactly? Himself?,” he said.
Romualdez appeared before the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on Tuesday, offering full cooperation in the probe into what could be one of the country’s largest infrastructure-related corruption scandals in years.
Malacañang, for its part, said the decision on whether Romualdez could qualify as a state witness rests with the Department of Justice (DOJ).
But Duterte was not convinced. He accused the administration of using Romualdez’s possible role as a witness to divert attention from the core of the scandal — the alleged systematic plunder of public infrastructure funds.
“Ayaw mi himoa’g bogo, oy. Ang tawong nagpalapad sa flood-control billions karon gusto pa magpahimo’g ‘witness’? That’s like a crocodile volunteering to testify against other crocodiles — but only after they’ve finished eating off the river. Sa Tagalog pa, ‘Ang magnanakaw, gusto pang maging testigo sa sarili niyang nakawan,’” he said.
Duterte warned that allowing such a move would further erode public trust in the justice system and reinforce the belief that the law bends in favor of the powerful.
“Kung si DOJ gani motugot ani, klaro na kaayo — hindi lang baha ang problema ng bansa, pati konsensya ng gobyerno lumulubog na rin,” he said.
He also condemned what he described as selective justice, saying the powerful are shielded while the public bears the cost of corruption.
“So what’s next? The mastermind becomes the witness, the witnesses become the suspects, and the people — as always — become the fools. Kung kani ilang style sa ‘anti-corruption drive,’ mas maayo pang magpahulam ta’g bangka. At least sa tinuod nga baha, makalabang pa ta. Sa baha sa korapsyon nga ilang gihimo — way kaluoy, way kahadlok, ug way kaulaw,” Duterte said.
Duterte said the Philippines has become a global embarrassment, not just because of widespread corruption, but also due to the administration’s alleged efforts to conceal it.
He also took a swipe at other officials reportedly involved in the scandal, particularly Albay Representative Zaldy Co, questioning why no real action — such as the cancellation of Co’s passport — has been taken despite mounting public outrage.
In closing, Duterte issued a grim warning about the worsening state of governance in the country.
“Is this how stupid this administration looks at the Filipino people? Are they not ashamed with our neighbors abroad? The ship is sinking, and it is sinking fast. But the culprits cannot be made to answer because they are in power. Something must be done, and done fast, or else there would be nothing left for the generations to come,” he added.
