Martin Romualdez formally resigns, Isabela’s Bojie Dy is new House speaker
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MANILA, Philippines – SpeakerMartin Romualdez no more.
Addressing the House plenary on Wednesday September 17, the Leyte 1st District congressman announced his resignation as speaker — a decision he said he made “after deep reflection and prayer” and “with a full heart and a clear conscience.”
“The issues surrounding certain infrastructure projects have raised questions that weigh not only upon me, but upon this institution we all serve,” Romualdez said.
“The longer I stay, the heavier that burden grows — on me, on this House, and on the President I have always sought to support,” he added.
Romualdez said that his exit will allow the executive’sIndependent Commission for Infrastructure to “pursue its mandate freely and fully — without doubt, without interference, and without undue influence.”
As expected, Isabela 6th District RepresentativeFaustino “Bojie” Dy III, the only nominee for the post, was elected as the new speaker. A total of 253 House members voted for Dy, while 28 abstained, and 4 did not cast a vote.
The development puts the lid on months-long rumors that Romualdez — who has accumulated enemies left and right in the last three years — was at risk of losing the country’s fourth highest post.
The leadership change came just a week after the upper chamberousted Chiz Escudero as its Senate president and replaced him with Senator Tito Sotto.
Romualdez and his close ally, former appropriations chairpersonZaldy Co, have been the subject of criticisms over their alleged involvement in the highly criticized 2025 General Appropriations Act, which opponents and budget advocates say wasmangled and among the most corrupt spending bills ever passed.
Romualdez has also become the political nemesis of Vice President Sara Duterte, who onceaccused Romualdez of manipulating the national budget.
There are various narratives being floated on his resignation: his allies say Romualdez has been mulling over stepping down so he could face the music without dragging the image of the lower chamber; our other sources say he had to be convinced that taking a leave of absence would not be enough to contain growing public dissatisfaction.
His successor, Dy, is a congressional returnee who first served as Isabela 3rd District representative from 2001 to 2010.
Dy was Isabela governor from 2010 to 2019, and vice governor from 2019 to 2025.
He is a member of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, the party of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.– Rappler.com
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