Political analyst Lito Banayo said former Speaker Martin Romualdez could still point the finger at his cousin, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., as he faces a plunder case over alleged anomalies in flood control projects.
Banayo said Romualdez’s earlier statement that he would not “go quietly” and would not “go down alone” could be viewed as a warning that he might implicate other personalities, including the President.
Asked whether Romualdez could still implicate the President, Banayo said the possibility remains.
“No, it will always be there, Atty. Karen,” he said during an interview on Bilyonaryo News Channel’s At The Forefront with Atty. Karen Jimeno.
Banayo cited the political relationship between the President and the House Speaker, saying a Speaker generally assumes the position with the President’s approval.
“The Speaker is always… I mean, whoever becomes a Speaker gets to be Speaker because the President says so or the President agrees,” he said.
“Either he actually picked the guy or he agreed. That always happens,” Banayo added.
He said it would be difficult to believe that a House Speaker, particularly one who is the President’s first cousin and is known to be close to him, could make major decisions without informing the President.
“Now, if you know that you are a Speaker by the grace of the President, would you do anything na major thing like moving budgetary allocations in the NEP (National Expenditure Program) to unprogrammed allocations without informing the President?” Banayo asked.
Banayo was referring to Romualdez’s earlier statement that matters involving the budget were undertaken upon the instruction of the Executive, with Congress merely approving the budget.
He said Romualdez could theoretically claim that he carried out actions on the orders of the President.
“Well, I’m speculating here, but Martin Romualdez can always say, I was doing all of this upon orders of the President,” Banayo said.
He acknowledged, however, that such a claim would become a matter of credibility between Romualdez and Marcos.
“And since it’s only him and the President, it’s his word against the President,” he said.
Banayo also cited the selection of the House appropriations committee chair as an example of the President’s influence over major congressional positions.
“It’s very difficult for people to believe that even if you’re a Speaker, your first cousin, you’re very close, that you can do things with impunity without informing the President,” he said.
“Mahirap isipin yung ganoon,” Banayo added.
“Remember, even the choice of appropriations chair, you do not get to be chairman of appropriations on the say-so of the Speaker without acceptance by the President. I’ve been through several administrations, those things never happen,” he said.
“Laging tao ng Presidente rin yung appropriations,” Banayo added.#