Romualdez quits as Speaker amid flood probe pressure
Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez formally resigned on Wednesday as Speaker of the House of Representatives in an effort to stanch the chamber’s bleeding credibility following allegations linking him and other lawmakers to questionable public works projects.
Taking his place was his deputy, Isabela Rep. Faustino “Bojie” Dy III, who was elected unopposed with 253 votes and 28 abstentions shortly after Romualdez stepped down during the House plenary.
Deputy Speaker and Antipolo Rep. Ronaldo Puno said in a dzMM radio interview that it was Romualdez who recommended to party leaders that they pick Dy as his successor. Dy comes from the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, President Marcos’ party.
Rumors of Romualdez’s exit had persisted especially after Mr. Marcos, his cousin, launched an anticorruption drive on anomalous flood control projects that implicated many of the then House leader’s lieutenants, including the former appropriations committee chair, Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co.
The controversies, Romualdez said in his valedictory address, “raised questions that weigh not only upon me, but upon this institution we all serve. Our countrymen are yearning for clarity, and above all, trust. It is our duty to restore this.”
“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,” he added.
Romualdez was greeted with a round of applause and standing ovation before and after his resignation speech.
Undue influence
Romualdez said he hoped his decision to step down would allow the body created by the President, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), to “pursue its mandate freely and fully—without doubt, without interference, and without undue influence.”
“I step down not in surrender but in service. For sometimes, the greatest act of leadership is the grace to let go, so that this institution may endure stronger than before,” he added.
Deputy Speaker Jefferson Khonghun said Romualdez was resigning so that he could better address the allegations against him and spare the House from further criticism.
Romualdez has not been linked to any of the top companies found to have bagged multiple flood control contracts. However, during a Senate hearing on Sept. 8, he was one of the lawmakers named by contractor-couple Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II and Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya as alleged recipients of kickbacks from the projects.
During the House hearing the following day also on the flood control mess, Curlee Discaya clarified that he had no direct transactions with Romualdez and Co.
According to Puno, chair of the National Unity Party, Romualdez will also focus on clearing up matters related to the questioned “insertions” of items worth P241 billion in the 2025 national budget.
Public trust
Puno said Romualdez had been considering stepping down for the past few weeks, during which House party leaders still managed to persuade him to stay put.
Puno said they instead advised Romualdez to consider just taking a leave of absence, but he eventually decided on Tuesday to resign.
This was in order to dispel any suspicion that, by remaining as Speaker, he would try to cover up the allegations of irregularity, he said.
Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos, a son of the President, said Romualdez asked for a meeting with his father in Malacañang later on Tuesday, where he eventually disclosed his plan to resign.
Other lawmakers agreed that the leadership change in the House was necessary to restore public trust in the chamber.
“Without casting any doubt on the reputation and integrity of the Speaker, it’s a good move to get it out of the public’s mind that maybe nothing will happen in these investigations (on anomalous infrastructure projects),” said Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima. “It’s more than any individual reputation now. We’re talking about the very reputation, credibility, integrity and dignity of the entire House of Representatives.”
Iloilo Rep. Lorenz Defensor shared the view, saying the shake-up was necessary for the House “to rebuild its reputation and regain its integrity after what has happened with the anomalous (2025 budget) and the flood control mess.”
Bacolod Rep. Albee Benitez, who was initially expected to be among the contenders for the speakership, said Romualdez’s resignation was the “best way to move forward so we can finally see for ourselves the truth behind the many problems now rocking the House.”
Low morale
By resigning, Romualdez dodged the possibility of a coup similar to that which unseated his counterpart in the Senate, Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, on Sept. 9.
Escudero was then also being hounded by an allegation that he illegally received campaign contributions from a major contractor of public works projects.
While there has been a public clamor for Romualdez to step down, House insiders told the Inquirer that the veteran lawmaker still enjoyed the trust of the majority. They cited the way he steered the chamber through challenging episodes, including the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte in February.
A lawmaker belonging to the majority said that up to the end, Dy and other possible contenders could not muster enough votes to mount a serious challenge to Romualdez, even with the House morale at its lowest.
Romualdez became only the second Speaker in Philippine history to resign, after Sergio Osmeña who stepped down from the leadership of the chamber, then called the Philippine Assembly, due to criticism from fellow Nationalistas in 1921.
For political analyst Cleve Arguelles, the leadership shake-up in the House “successfully demonstrated that President Marcos is no lame duck president.”
“The scandal that toppled both the Senate and House leadership was of his own making, and it has given him renewed leverage over Congress—something that had been undermined by the fragmented results of the 2025 midterms,” he said.
By anointing Dy, Arguelles said, Mr. Marcos ensured that the House majority “was still under his orbit and is likely to consolidate in the President’s party too, even this late into his term.”
In a statement issued by the Presidential Communications Office on Wednesday, Malacañang said it is looking forward to working with Dy “to advance measures that strengthen the economy, ensure basic services, and protect our democracy.”
Earlier in the day, Palace press officer Claire Castro said Romualdez’s resignation would be the “appropriate” move to save the institutional integrity of the House.
“If it would be for the purpose of allowing a freer investigation—especially since his name is being mentioned—it would be proper and acceptable if his reason [to step down] is to preserve the integrity of the institution and ensure an independent investigation,” Castro noted.
The Palace spokesperson also made it clear that Romualdez would still be subjected to the ICI’s investigation.
“He will not escape accountability,” Castro said. “And if his name becomes involved and evidence is presented against him, it would be better for him to defend himself using the records he can present.”
President Marcos earlier said there would be no sacred cows in the ICI probe. —WITH REPORTS FROM DEXTER CABALZA AND LUISA CABATO
