Leyte Representative and House Speaker Martin Romualdez is set to step down from his post, according to statements from Antipolo 1st District Representative and House Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno during DZRH’s Dos Por Dos.
“‘Yon ang sinabi niya [Cong. Martin Romualdez] sa amin kahapon. Tinawag niya ‘yong mga party leaders bandang 5pm ng hapon at sinabi niya na nagusap na raw sila ng pangulo at sinabi niya nga na magbibitaw daw siya today sa posisyon nya. So parang totoo nga.” Puno said.
The focus has now shifted to House Deputy Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy of Isabela. Puno explained that a formal election will still be required.
“Kahapon noong sinabi sa amin ni speaker ang kanyang plano na magbitiw na, hiniling din niya sa aming mga party leaders na tulungan namin si Deputy Speaker Bojie Dy para umakyat sa posisyon,” Puno said.
“Ang procedure dyan is kung magbitiw, inaasahan namin, iniintay namin na magbigay siya ng speech mamayang hapon para sabihin sa amin ‘yong kanyang desisyon, magiging bakante ‘yong posisyon, so kailangan magbobotohan kami, we will have to elect a new speaker at ang request sa amin ni speaker Martin is si Deputy Speaker Bojie Dy ang aming iboto,” he added.
Asked if there were other contenders for the position, Puno said, “Wala siguro. Ang hirap ng posisyon na ‘yan sa totoo lang. Siguro mga tatlong linggo na ‘yan pabalik-balik ‘yong si speaker tinatawag kami, sasabihin na naman kami ‘Oh I think I should step aside because of all of these problems’, sabi niya ganyan.”
“Syempre lahat kami sinasabi ‘hindi ‘wag because magulong panahon ito, hindi tamang panahon ‘to speaker para bumitiw kayo ngayon, lalong gugulo’; ‘yon ang aming sinasabi sa kanya tapos magbabago isip niya, babalik na naman doon…” Cong. Puno added.
Puno clarified that the decision to resign was not due to presidential persuasion, as the House Speaker was already thinking about doing the deed before visiting the Palace.
On whether the leadership change would affect other positions in the House, Puno stated that there is a minimum to no possibility of complete leadership change given the tight circumstances and various probes currently happening within the government.
“Ang usapan ngayon dahil kasama kami lahat sa Majority is wala muna magpapalitan dahil nasa kalagitnaan tayo ng budget deliberations ang daming mga tinatrabaho ngayon sa congress, ‘yong ibang committee nag-o-organize pa. So, mahirap mag-reorganize ngayon. Kaka-organize pa lang, it took ilang buwan. Ang boboto kay Dep. Speaker Bojie Dy ay mga kasama namin sa Majority. Sa tingin ko wala masyadong palitan dyan.”
Romualdez’s resignation comes amid ongoing scrutiny over budget insertions, which drew public criticism over the past seven months. Despite the controversies, Puno defended Romualdez’s record, saying the Speaker intends to face all investigations openly.
