Sara Duterte Slams Move to Make Romualdez State Witness, Accuses Marcos of “Scripted” Flood Control Probe

Vice President Sara Duterte has blasted the proposal to turn former House Speaker and Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez—a cousin of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.—into a state witness in the ₱1.6-billion flood control scandal, calling it an affront to the law and a possible sign of political cover-up.

“Under the law, a principal in a crime cannot be made a state witness,” Duterte declared, in a sharp rebuke of Palace Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro’s statement that the Department of Justice (DOJ) would decide whether Romualdez qualifies for such protection. The Vice President said the idea itself “insults public intelligence” and undermines the integrity of the investigation.

Duterte also questioned President Marcos’ earlier assurance that the corruption probe would not reach the Office of the President, suggesting that the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) may already be working under a prearranged script.

“With this so-called ongoing inquiry, you have to wonder why the President is so confident it won’t reach his office. Maybe he already knows how it will end,” Duterte said during the Pandesal Forum in Quezon City. “No one can predict the future—except apparently BBM,” she added sarcastically.

The Vice President defended herself from any potential link to the scam, asserting that neither the Office of the Vice President (OVP) nor the Department of Education (DepEd), which she led until July 2024, had any flood control projects.

“I’m certain this scandal won’t reach me. I have no DPWH projects or insertions—none whatsoever,” Duterte said.

However, she acknowledged that political allies might still attempt to drag her into the issue through her association with Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, a longtime ally of former President Rodrigo Duterte.