Manila: Former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez could have directly answered allegations linking him to the alleged 'mangling' of the 2025 national budget had he attended Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings on flood control, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said Wednesday.

According to Philippines News Agency, Lacson stated that appearing before the committee, which he chairs, would have allowed Romualdez to present his side under oath and address the accusations in a public forum. The Blue Ribbon Committee extended at least two official invitations to Romualdez to testify under oath and offer a public defense against accusations of masterminding the 'mangling beyond recognition' of the 2025 national budget during the bicameral conference. Romualdez claims these changes were made solely by then Senate President Francis Chiz Escudero and former House Appropriations Chairman Elizaldy Zaldy Co.

The Senate panel sent invitations through the office of Speaker Faustino Dy III in line with inter-parliamentary courtesy. However, Romualdez did not attend the hearings on November 14, 2025, and January 19, 2026. In a video statement released Tuesday, Romualdez denied involvement in the budget deliberations, asserting he was not part of the bicameral conference committee or the 'small committee' responsible for introducing changes to the General Appropriations Bill after its approval by both chambers.

Romualdez attributed the decisions to then Senate President Francis Escudero and former House appropriations chairperson Elizaldy Co. The Blue Ribbon Committee has been investigating alleged irregularities tied to the 2025 budget, including flood control projects flagged for possible anomalies.