A Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing aimed at tying former Speaker Martin Romualdez to a luxury property deal ended in embarrassment Monday, with allegations crumbling under scrutiny.
Two witnesses, both former staff of a South Forbes Park tenant, claimed a businessman visited the property, name-dropped Romualdez, and acted as a contractor. But the supposed “businessman” denied it all under oath, saying he’d never been to the area and didn’t know the property’s layout. This directly contradicted the witnesses’ accounts, leaving their claims looking shaky.
Adding to the mess, there’s zero documentary evidence linking Romualdez to the property – no deed of sale, contract, or payment receipts. The witnesses’ testimonies are now being questioned, with some saying they’re based on hearsay or speculation.
Observers say the witnesses weren’t buyers, sellers, or signatories, and had no direct involvement in the lease or sale. “In law, allegations aren’t enough,” a legal expert noted. “Ownership requires documents, not hearsay.”
The controversy likely stems from a non-renewed lease, critics say. Records show Romualdez wasn’t the tenant, owner, buyer, or beneficiary. Senator Panfilo Lacson faces backlash for allegedly rushing the probe without solid evidence.
“This is a clear case of harassment,” a Romualdez ally said.20 Romualdez ally said. The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee will reconvene, but for now, the allegations seem to have fizzled out.
The fallout has raised questions about the motivations behind the probe, with some accusing Lacson of grandstanding. The case highlights the challenges of proving allegations in politics, where claims can spread quickly but evidence is often hard to come by.
