MANILA – Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday said she believes testimonies linking House Speaker Martin Romualdez to the alleged delivery of suitcases filled with cash, citing what she described as a “disturbing pattern” of corruption allegations against the Speaker.

In a statement, Duterte said her response to reporters’ questions earlier in the day was an unequivocal “yes” when asked if she found credible the claim of retired Master Sgt. Jaime Guteza, who testified that multiple suitcases of money were brought to Romualdez’s residence.

“Oo, sapagkat ito ay tugma sa mga napabalita na noong pagtanggap niya ng suhol,” Duterte said.

The Vice President pointed to proceedings before the Delaware Court in the case of 26 Capital Corp. v. Tiger Resort Asia Ltd., where she said Romualdez’s name was mentioned 17 times in connection with alleged “heavy luggage” delivered to him as part of a questionable deal involving the Okada Manila casino.

“In sum, the Court refused to be swayed by the implausible claim that the ‘heavy luggage’ delivered to Martin Romualdez only contained documents,” Duterte said.

“These are not mere coincidences — they form a disturbing pattern,” she added, saying this gave weight to Guteza’s testimony that weekly deliveries of “basura” were brought to Romualdez.

Duterte said she had repeatedly questioned President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s judgment in choosing Romualdez as Speaker of the House of Representatives, especially after the Delaware ruling.

“Sadly, President Marcos continues to display this flawed judgment — by merely changing the leadership in both Houses of Congress, while keeping a stranglehold on the flood-control probe through the creation of what is supposed to be an ‘Independent’ Commission on Infrastructure that is clearly under his control,” she said.

The Vice President closed her statement with a warning that “one day, the floodwaters of truth and accountability will flow all the way to Malacañan.”