MANILA, Philippines—Law maker Martin Romualdez, Representative of 1st District of Leyte formally stepped down as Speaker of the House today at around 3:30 in the afternoon.
He said he has come to this point in order to give way for the investigation of Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to commence without the interference and influence from the Lower House.
Romualdez and Congressman Zaldy Co, representative of Ako Bicol partylist have been tagged numerous times as the people behind budget corruption, misused and misalignment. Vice President Sara Duterte said last year that only two people control the Philippine Budget naming Romualdez and Co.
Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, now also the Special Adviser and Investigator of the newly created Ad hoc fact-finding commission ICI recently and implicitly mentioned Romualdez as the boss of Co in anomalous budget insertions for flood control projects.
Congressman Toby Tiangco, Representative of Navotas lone district is also expressing the same sentiments of Mayor Magalong.
Tiangco alleges that Co and Romualdez spearheaded at least P13.8 billion amount of insertions on the 2025 national Budget for flood control over the country. “ I have to choose between my friendship with Martin and the legacy of the president.” Tiangco said in an interview with Boy Abunda.
Tiangco protested why there are budget insertions for provinces and places which are not needing flood alleviations.
Another member of the lower house who is blatantly berating Romualdez is Congressman Kiko Barzaga, representative of 4th District of Cavite, who was earlier reported as the one insinuating the replacement of the House Speaker. Barzaga later showed different derogatory antics and later stated that Romualdez must be the first to be investigated by the ICI and that he will be the one replacing him as the speaker.
A video posted by Barzaga himself on his Facebook page shows the farewell speech of Romualdez for which he lambasts the latter. . “Ang saya ng mga tao wala ka na, byebye na, byebye crocodile!” Barzaga said.
House Majority Leader Congressman Sandro Marcos, representative of 1st District of Ilocos Norte said that Romualdez met with his father, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. yesterday to offer his resignation as the house speaker amidst the allegations and scandals and that his father did not force Romualdez to step down.
Marcos also said that Co should go home and face all the allegations raised against him as he is dragging the whole congress into the mud.
Congressman Faustino “Bojie” Dy III, representative of Isabela 6th District is the new Speaker of the house replacing Romualdez.
