Romualdez says ‘suitcases of cash’ claim ‘pure fiction’

By Zaldy De Layola, Philippine News Agency

Romualdez also hit back at the source of the allegations, saying it was unfortunate that Vice President Duterte, who herself is facing her own political troubles, is spreading such “lies.” (File Photo: House of Representatives of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA – Former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Monday denied Vice President Sara Duterte’s allegations linking him to illegal gambling and supposed deliveries of cash claims, calling them baseless and fabricated.

“Naririnig ko ang mga akusasyon. Diretsahan kong sasabihin: hindi totoo na ako’y tumatanggap mula sa ilegal na sugal (I heard the accusations. Directly, I would say: It’s not true that I was receiving money from illegal gambling),” the Leyte representative said, adding that the stories about alleged “suitcases of cash” are “pure fiction” meant to tarnish his name.

“Lahat guni-guni. Madaling magturo, madaling mag-imbento — pero ang katotohanan, hindi kayang patunayan. Until today, wala pa ring ipinakitang ebidensya — puro sabi-sabi lang na inuulit-ulit (It’s easy to finger-point, it’s easy to invent — but the truth is — it can’t be proven. Until today, there is still no evidence shown – it’s all hearsay said over and over again),” he said.

Romualdez also hit back at the source of the allegations, saying it was unfortunate that Vice President Duterte, who herself is facing her own political troubles, is spreading such “lies.”

“When the source itself has lost credibility, why should anyone believe these baseless claims?” the erstwhile House leader added.