By Wendell Vigilia
Copyright malaya
Isabela solon elected new House leader
LEYTE Rep. Martin Romualdez yesterday resigned from his post as Speaker of the House of Representatives, giving in to calls for his removal following allegations of graft and corruption against some members of the lower house who allegedly received kickbacks from flood control projects.
The Leyte lawmaker, a first cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., was replaced by Deputy Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III of Isabela, who was voted by 253 House members.
Romualdez, who was given a standing ovation after he announced his resignation, said his decision is meant to win back public trust and allow the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to proceed with its investigation without influence from congressional leaders who are accused of pocketing kickbacks from flood control funds.
In his resignation speech during the plenary session, Romualdez initially highlighted milestones achieved by the House that will stand beyond his term as Speaker, saying that “I will always be proud of what we have achieved as your people’s House.”
“But leadership also demands difficult choices. Today, I have decided to step down as Speaker of the House of Representatives. If my decision can help restore faith in our institutions, then I offer myself willingly as an example of accountability,” he said.
He said the issues surrounding flood control projects “have raised questions that weigh not only upon me, but upon this institution we all serve.”
Contractors Cezarah Rowena “Sarah” Discaya and her husband, Pacifico “Curlee” II, have earlier named 17 congressmen, eight officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and a former government official as alleged recipients of “advance commissions” that they paid to get government projects.
Curlee, however, has made it clear that he did not have transactions with Romualdez and that he was only name-dropped by some congressmen who demanded commissions.
“Ang ating mga kababayan ay naghahangad ng linaw, at higit sa lahat, ng tiwala. Tungkulin nating ito’y maibalik (Our people are looking for clear answers and most of all, trust. It’s our duty to regain it). The longer I stay, the heavier that burden grows – on me, on this House, and on the President I have always sought to support. And so, after deep reflection and prayer, I have made a decision. Today, with a full heart and a clear conscience, I tender my resignation as Speaker of the House of Representatives,” Romualdez said.
“I do this so that the Independent Commission on Infrastructure may pursue its mandate freely and fully — without doubt, without interference, and without undue influence. Walang pipigil. Walang makikialam (No one try to stop it. No one will meddle). Let the truth emerge, and let justice be done,” he also said.
The former House leader, however, made it clear that his decision should not be seen as an admission of wrongdoing.
“Let me be clear: wala akong kasalanan at wala akong itinatago. Ang tanging layunin ko ay maglingkod at magpabuti ng buhay ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino (I have not done anything wrong and I’m not hiding anything. My only goal is to serve and make the lives of every Filipino family better),” he said.
Romualdez said he gave up his post because he believes that protecting public trust more than any top government position is what “genuine public service” is all about.
“Yet I also know that when questions arise, it is the people’s trust that must always come first,” he said. “Masakit man sa akin (While it pains me), I am stepping aside so that the independent investigation may proceed freely — without pressure, without influence, and without fear. This is not surrender, but conscience,” he said.
‘THIS HOUSE WILL CHANGE’
Dy was declared the new Speaker and was sworn in by Negros Occidental Rep. Javier Benitez shortly before 5:00 p.m.
The new House leader was nominated by Quezon City Rep. Ralph Wendell Tulfo, whose move was seconded by Isabela Rep. Antonio “Tonypet” Albano.
Dy, a party mate of the President in the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), comes from the Dy political dynasty of Isabela who are known staunch allies of the President in the Solid North.
During the election of the Speaker, 28 lawmakers abstained from voting.
In his inaugural speech, Dy vowed to fully cooperate with the ICI investigation, saying no member of the House will be protected under his leadership.
“This House will change. I will not defend the guilty. I will not shield the corrupt. Gaya ng paninindigan ng ating Pangulo (like the commitment of our President) – No rank, no ally, no office will be spared from accountability,” he said.
“We must strengthen the Oversight Committee and fully cooperate with the Independent Commission of Infrastructure. Our duty is not to protect each other – our duty is to protect the Filipino people,” he added.
Dy admitted that he had doubts before accepting the challenge to lead the House as he thanked his colleagues for their trust and confidence in him.
“Hindi ko po ito inaasahan (I did not expect this). Aminado po ako, mayroon po akong pangamba sa aking dibdib habang iniisip ko ang hamon ng katungkulang inaatang aking balikat (I admit, I have fears while thinking about the challenges of the position that is placed upon my shoulders),” he said.
Acknowledging the public’s frustration over the flood control fund scandal, Dy urged the people to give members of the House an opportunity to regain their trust and confidence.
“Ako na ho ang unang magsasabi sa ating mga kababayan: meron kaming pagkukulang. Kami po ay nagpapakumbaba. Nakikiusap po kami na sana bigyan ninyo kami ng pagkakataong ituwid ang mga maling kalakaran at linisin ang aming hanay. Nakikiusap po kami na bigyan ninyo kami ng tsansang makuha muli ang inyong tiwala (I’ll be the one to tell our people: we have our faults. We humbly appeal to you. We implore you to give us an opportunity to correct our wrong ways and clean our ranks. We appeal to you to give us a chance to win your trust once again),” he said.
The Speaker vowed to continue and improve the budget reforms started by his predecessor, whom he thanked for the seamless transfer of power.
“Sa tulong ninyo, sisiguraduhin din natin na ang bawat sentimo na paglalaanan ng badyet sa bawat departamento ay tutugma sa pangangailangan ng mamamayang Pilipino (With your help, we will ensure that every centavo in the budget that will be allocated to every department will be aligned with the needs of the Filipino people),” he said.
Dy also asked the public to help ensure that Congress will be able to pass a “good and clean” national budget now that it is deliberating on the proposed P6.7 trillion national budget for 2026.
‘PROTECT THE HOUSE’
Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno of Antipolo City said Romualdez urged party leaders last Tuesday to support Dy because he was already firm about stepping down to insulate the House from allegations that its ongoing investigation into the flood control scandal is meant to protect him and other lawmakers.
Puno said Dy has a good relationship with House members “so it was expected that the Speaker asked us to support him.”
He surmised that the Romualdez and House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos “also discussed this and brought it before the President, and the President agreed.”
Romualdez went to Malacañang with the President’s son, who is his nephew, on Tuesday where they discussed the matter with the President, who reportedly agreed to the plan.
Puno said the former Speaker always mentioned during past meetings with party leaders that he was thinking of resigning “because he said there was already too much controversy and he wanted to protect the reputation of our lower house.”
He said Romualdez had been firm in his plan to step down, but party leaders did not want him to resign and suggested instead that he just go on leave to allow an acting speaker to take over.
“If he will just go on leave, people will just say he is just using his position to influence the House. He will resign so it is clear cut,” Puno, chairman of the National Unity Party (NUP), told a radio interview.
Puno said Romualdez did not want the House to be dragged into the issue once his critics accuse him of using his position to avoid the ICI investigation. “He said maybe he should step aside so that he could face these allegations,” he said.
Deputy Speaker Jefferson Khonghun of Zambales said that by resigning, Romualdez made a sacrifice to save the House as an institution and regain public trust even if there are no proof that he benefited from the flood control funds as claimed by critics.
He said Romualdez can now focus on confronting the allegations against him without being accused of using his position as Speaker to shield himself.
“He’ll have more time to face the accusations. He’ll have more time to answer the intrigues. That’s one of the reasons why he chose to make a sacrifice for the institution and the nation,” he said in Filipino.
Khonghun said House leaders are saddened by the turn of events “but we have to move on.”
Iloilo Rep. Lorenz Defensor said he is in favor of a leadership change because “the House needs to rebuild its reputation and regain its integrity after what has happened to the anomalous flood control; we have to regain the public trust.”
“What happened with the budget and the implementation of the hundreds of billions of flood control? It is the highest form of plunder – plunder in the highest degree – and it’s sad that it has affected the membership of the House of Representatives,” he said.
Defensor said “someone must be held accountable, charged, and jailed because of this anomalous flood control issue that has destroyed the reputation of both Houses (of Congress).”
Bacolod City Rep. Alfredo Benitez, a vocal Romualdez critic who was among those who eyed the speaker’s post, voted for Dy, making him a member of the majority bloc.
Benitez said a leadership change “is probably the best way to move forward,” adding the change will help in “finding out the truth about the problem that’s rocking the House.”
Cebu Rep. Duke Frasco, another Romualdez critic, threw his support behind Dy: “I extend my full support to Congressman Bojie Dy as the new Speaker of the House of Representatives. I am confident in his leadership and know him to be a man of integrity and good character.”
Malacañang said it looks forward to working with Dy in advancing legislative measures that would strengthen the economy, ensure basic services, and protect democracy.
The Palace likewise recognized the contributions of Romuladez in advancing the administration’s legislative agenda.
“The President recognizes the vital role of the House of Representatives, especially at a time when the public demands visible results and Congress is called upon to take active steps that address people’s concerns and deliver real improvements in daily life,” the PCO said in a statement.
“We respect the independence of the chamber and acknowledge the contributions of former Speaker Martin Romualdez. We now look forward to working with Speaker Faustino Dy III to advance measures that strengthen the economy, ensure basic services, and protect our democracy,” it also said.
The PCO said the Marcos administration remains committed to ensuring constructive collaboration with all lawmakers to keep the focus on the needs of Filipino families and move the nation forward.
Palace press officer Claire Castro said, though, that Romualdez’s resignation would not spare him from the investigation on the anomalous projects.
“If his name is implicated and evidence is presented against him, it is better for him to defend it with records that he can show. Whether he resigns or not, he can still be investigated,” Castro said in a press briefing.
She also confirmed that the President met with and Romualdez on Tuesday but declined to disclose what were discussed.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III congratulated Dy on his election as the new Speaker.
“Congratulations to Speaker Bodjie Dy. I am confident that under his leadership, the House of Representatives will continue to serve the Filipino people well,” Sotto said, as he expressed hope that the relationship between the two houses of Congress would remain smooth and strong.
Sen. Francis Escudero also welcomed Dy’s election, saying that the transition “should not distract us from the unresolved issues on alleged past budget insertions, and government projects anomalies.”
“Leadership changes must lead to institutional reform, not selective amnesia… I wish Speaker Dy the very best. I trust that he will rise to the challenge and steer the House towards greater integrity and responsiveness to the people’s concerns,” Escudero said.
Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito said the change in leadership in both the Senate and the House would be the start of a new beginning towards a better relationship between and among lawmakers.
Sen. Ronald dela Rosa surmised that the resignation of Romualdez may have something to do with the flood control projects mess.
“What comment do you want to hear? Did he step down? Did he resign? Is that a sign of guilt? Why did he resign?” Dela Rosa said in an ambush interview.
When pressed what he was referring to as the alleged “guilt” of the former Speaker, Dela Rosa said in a mix of Filipino and English: “About the accusation, about our problems on flood control. I don’t know why he resigned.”
In an interview with ANC, Puno said Romualdez had nothing to do with the billions of insertions in the 2025 national budget.
“The most recent issue started back in January regarding the so-called budget insertions, but now we’ve learned that it actually wasn’t him and he had nothing to do with it,” he said. “But the Speaker endured that for seven months. That’s why I admire him, because he was not only prepared but also showed the capacity to sacrifice for the House, for Congress as a whole, and even for the Senate as well.”
Puno said Rep. Zaldy Co (PL, Ako Bicol), former chair of the House Committee on Appropriations, should be brought home even by force. “What is the plan on Zaldy Co? Well, you know, in Congress, we’re saying that he should be brought back, forcibly if necessary,” he said.
Co, who is being accused of making the questionable insertions in the 2025 national budget, was among the lawmakers named by the Discaya couple in their Senate testimony.
“Initial reports (say) that he was in the US. And I saw some posts where he is supposed to be in a house, he changed his name, and things like that. But in the US, we can extradite people, and what is important now is cases need to be filed,” Puno said.
Puno said the issue is no longer just a subject of legislative inquiry since it is shaping up to be “a criminal thing.”
“Cases have to be filed,” said Puno. “I hope that cases will be filed and people will be jailed.”
‘CALCULATED DIVERSIONS’
Escudero cautioned the public against Puno’s supposed “calculated diversion” to absolve Romualdez from any involvement in the flood control projects mess.
He said Puno’s narrative is misleading the public and purportedly undermines the integrity of ongoing investigations on “ghost” and substandard flood control projects.
“Katawa-tawa naman ang ginagawa nila. Ang bilis naman nila i-abswelto si Speaker Romualdez, ilaglag si Rep. Zaldy Co, ilihis ang isyu at magturo ng iba (What they are doing is funny. They are quick to absolve Speaker Romualdez, dump Rep. Zaldy Co, divert the issue, and put the blame on someone else),” he said.
He said such a “coordinated effort” is obviously meant to deflect blame and confuse the public.
Escudero reminded the public that the real issue lies in the existence of ghost and substandard flood control projects, and the kickbacks embedded in past budgets.
“The real issues are the ghost projects, substandard projects, and the kickbacks in the budgets of 2022, 2023, and 2024 and even earlier,” he said in Filipino, citing reports from the Commission on Audit, Department of Budget and Management, the Department of Public Works and Highways, and whistleblowers in past congressional hearings.
He said the people should be wary and not be distracted by political narratives that tend to “sanitize” the mess, reminding the public about the 12 counts of falsification of legislative documents and 12 counts of graft that were filed against Romualdez and others before the Office of the Ombudsman last February.
The cases involved alleged P241 billion worth of “insertions” in the 2025 national budget. – With Jocelyn Reyes and Raymond Africa
