Senator Francis Escudero delivers a privilege speech on Monday (Sept. 29, 2025). He deplored the “script and sarswela (dramatics)” aimed at diverting public outrage over anomalous flood control projects away from the House of Representatives and toward senators, an accusation which former House speaker Martin Romualdez of Leyte’s First District instead called a political maneuver aimed at alignment with Vice President Sara Duterte for the 2028 elections. (PNA photo by Avito Dalan)