House Speaker Martin Romualdez has sidestepped confirming or denying his involvement in a purported multimillion-dollar donation to Harvard University, citing respect for the institution’s gift policy.
“In light of recent speculations regarding my alleged donation to Harvard University, I choose to respect the institution’s gift policy,” Romualdez stated in a press release on Sunday.
He further asserted, “Harvard has already communicated that they ‘do not discuss the terms or specifics of individual gifts,’ and I stand by that principle.”
The intrigue deepened when The Harvard Crimson, an authoritative voice within the hallowed halls of the Ivy League institution, posted an article on Sept. 14, titled “Filipino Languages Preceptor Position Endowed by Nephew of Former Dictator Ferdinand Marcos.”
The article disclosed, “Martin G. Romualdez, the speaker of the Filipino House of Representatives and a nephew of the former Filipino dictator Ferdinand Marcos, has committed $2 million to endow the Filipino (Tagalog) preceptor position at Harvard, according to a source familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity.”
This revelation followed initial reports by US-based magazine FilAm, which made waves in August with the revelation that the House speaker had bestowed a $1 million donation to inaugurate the inaugural Filipino language course at Harvard University.
Both FilAm and The Harvard Crimson relied on sources shrouded in anonymity.
The Crimson’s investigative work underscored the pivotal role of Romualdez’s financial pledge in securing the future of the preceptor position, which faced uncertainty prior to his commitment.
Meanwhile, Harvard University maintained its tradition of shielding the identity of donors, adhering to a policy that prohibits divulging specifics about individual gifts.
The narrative took a curious turn when Inquirer.net, which initially disseminated the exclusive FilAm report, abruptly removed it from its platform.
The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism was quick to highlight this unexpected removal, shedding light on potential intrigue surrounding the story.
Rene Ciria Cruz, the US editor of Inquirer.net, confirmed his resignation, which he attributed to the article’s unexplained takedown, according to Rappler.
Notably, The Inquirer Group of Companies, overseeing Inquirer.net, is led by Sandy Prieto Romualdez, whose husband, Philip, is the brother of Speaker Martin.
Amid mounting scrutiny, Washington-based nonprofit advocacy organization US Filipinos for Good Governance demanded transparency concerning the funding of Harvard University’s Filipino language course.
USFGG national chair and Fil-Am billionaire Loida Nicolas Lewis asserted, “A sizable donation by Speaker Romualdez should be transparent,” calling for the sources of the $2 million to be divulged.
Lewis cautioned against prematurely demanding the return of funds to Harvard, deeming such an action unwarranted and unfair to the institution. She also called upon the Marcos family, which Romualdez is related to, to address the legacy of human rights violations during the Martial Law era.
Meanwhile, The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) expressed concerns about potential self-censorship within newsrooms following Inquirer’s decision to remove its report on Romualdez’s alleged donation to Harvard.
NUJP emphasized that such arbitrary actions could breed resentment among staff and undermine a media outlet’s credibility. The organization observed a chilling effect that has pervaded the media community in recent years.
Inquirer.net stood by its decision to delete the story, contending that the article failed to meet the publication’s standards for accuracy, transparency, and accountability.
The publication argued that the reliance on unnamed sources or individuals refusing identification raised questions about credibility and true identities.
The Daily Netizen 