MANILA – Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez rejected allegations made in a Senate hearing, branding them as lies and malicious name-dropping aimed at discrediting him and undermining Congress.

“I cannot and will not allow lies and name-dropping to pass unchecked,” Romualdez said in response to the joint affidavit of contractors Sarah and Curlee Discaya presented before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

“The claim in the Discaya couple’s affidavit that my name was used for commissions is false, malicious, and nothing more than name-dropping. Let me be clear: Wala akong kinalaman, wala akong pahintulot, at wala akong basbas sa mga ganyang gawain,” he added.

Romualdez stressed that Congress only debates and approves the budget, and has no role in releasing funds or implementing projects, which he said are handled by the Executive branch and agencies like the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

He warned that those who invoked his name to collect money did so without his knowledge and should be held accountable.

“If anyone invoked my name, they did so without my knowledge and without my consent. At kung ginawa nila iyon para kumita, sila ang mandaraya at sila ang dapat managot,” he said.

The Speaker declared he has never accepted a bribe and vowed accountability for anyone abusing his name.

“I have never, and I will never, accept a bribe from anybody. Walang sinuman ang kayang manuhol sa akin,” he said. “Kung may nang-abuso o gumamit ng pangalan ko para kumita, sila ang dapat managot—kahit sino pa sila, sa loob o labas ng gobyerno. But let us not allow lies and name-dropping to destroy reputations or weaken faith in Congress.”

“I will not allow falsehoods to tarnish my integrity or the institution I lead. Under my watch, we will clean the system, punish the guilty, and protect the people’s money,” Romualdez said.