Manila: Deputy Speaker and Antipolo City Representative Ronaldo ‘Ronnie’ Puno on Monday voiced concerns about a potential demolition job targeting former Speaker Martin Romualdez ahead of his scheduled appearance before the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on Tuesday. In an ambush interview, Puno questioned the timing of allegations linking Romualdez to purported overpriced and substandard farm-to-market road (FMR) projects in Leyte.

According to Philippines News Agency, Puno described the timing of these allegations as suspect, suggesting that they appear just before Romualdez’s engagement with the Independent Commission. He highlighted that the farm-to-market road projects in question had undergone scrutiny by relevant departments, including the Department of Agriculture under Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., and were not considered large undertakings.

Puno further clarified that none of the projects previously flagged by Laurel as ‘ghost’ or ‘substandard’ were located in Leyte. He expressed confusion over the origin of reports implicating Leyte in these allegations, pointing out the absence of such projects in the area according to the DA secretary’s statements.

Puno suggested the possibility of ‘scapegoating’ within these developments, where individuals might be shifting blame to deflect responsibility. He mentioned a perceived ‘lynch-mob mentality’ attempting to hold the former Speaker accountable for issues unfairly.

He urged the public to critically evaluate these claims and to ensure that they are rooted in factual evidence rather than opinion. Puno encouraged discernment, emphasizing the importance of basing judgments on real facts.