Former Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero laid the blame for the ongoing turmoil over budget insertions and the flood control project scandal on former House Speaker Martin Romualdez on Monday.

During his privilege speech, Escudero said there was none other behind the anomalous budget insertions and that Romualdez was pinning responsibility on senators to cover his and fellow congressmen’s tracks, reported RH 28 Raymund Dadpaas.

The people have been speaking up, Escudero said, and are always mentioning Romualdez. Aside from the Discaya couple, former Marine Sgt. Orly Guteza also implicated the congressman. Guteza claimed he used to deliver “basura”—suitcases loaded with cash—to Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co and Romualdez.

“Ang pangalan niya ay matagal nang bulong-bulungan sa bawat sulok ng bansa. Pero ngayon, unti-unti nang sinisigaw ng taumbayan. Bakit tila sa Kamara, dito mismo sa Senado, at sa ilang media, ay hindi pa nila kayang sambitin ang pangalan niya? Pwes, sasabihin ko: Martin Romualdez,” Escudero said before the Senate.

“Minsan nang binanggit ng mga Discaya ito, dito mismo sa Senado, ang kanyang pangalan. Pero agad itong pinabawi noong humarap sila sa Kamara. Binanggit ni Master Sergeant Guteza ang kanyang pangalan. Pero ultimo notaryo, natunton nila. At pinabawi nila ang pag-notaryo. Buti nalang, huli na’t nasabi na niya ang pangalan ni Martin Romualdez, na pinanumpaan dito mismo sa ating Blue Ribbon Committee,” he added.

Vice President Sara Duterte was watching Escudero deliver his speech from the Senate gallery, Dadpaas reported.

A number have come forward with accounts implicating the senator in anomalous flood control projects, such as former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo—all which Escudero denies.