September 18, 2025
Manila – After months of rumor about the makeover of the House Leadership House, speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez officially withdrew from his position, paving the way for the new leader in the room.
In a plenary meeting at 3:23 pm on Wednesday, Romualdez announced that he was abandoning his speech dominance.
According to Romualdez, the longer he stays in the position, the heavier the burden of the house regains the trust of the people.
“Higit sa lahat in ng tiwala. Support,” Romualdez said.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rx21r2ywzbc
He declared: “So, after deep reflection and prayer, I made a decision. Today, I am filled with heart and clear conscience, and I resigned from the resignation of the Speaker of the House.”
Romualdez stressed that he is following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“Our President reminded us in his recent national speech that accountability must prevail and no one is under scrutiny. I fully and explicitly accepted this call. Some questions have been raised around the issues of certain infrastructure projects, not only major issues for me, but for this institution, we all serve,” he said.
He added: “I did this so that the Independent Infrastructure Commission can pursue its mandate freely and fully – without doubt, no distractions, no inappropriate impact.
“To my colleagues: to advance the work of the agency with solidarity and determination,” he told the House members.
After Romadez announced his resignation, Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander Marcos opened the table. Rep. Ralph Wendel Tulfo, Quezon City, nominates Deputy Speaker and Rep. Faustino “bojie” dy iii as the next spokesperson.
The motion was seconded by Isabella District 1 Rep. Antonio “tonypet” Albano.
It is presumed that he will intensify his speculation in recent weeks after he and other legislators were trapped in flood control issues.
He has not yet had any contact with any of the top companies working on flood control projects, but he is one of the contractor’s legislators with Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya and Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya, allegedly receiving kickbacks from these projects.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pzj5q-xtjc
During a previous Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, Curlee Discaya said several House members demanded a portion of public funds allocated to the infrastructure project after his company carried the government contract.
Discaya added that in addition to the demands from lawmakers for kickbacks, the cuts were allegedly cuts would be cut by 25%, and it would be awarded to Romualdez and Rep. Elizaldy Co., a member of the Ako BICOL party.
Romualdez shouted out the Discaya’s claim, calling it “false, malicious, but just a naming.”
According to Romualdez, if someone gets funds from the project under his name, they do it with his knowledge and permission.
Furthermore, the speaker said he was a home-controlled person and never accepted bribes from anyone.
Read: romualdez: I never accepted bribes
But negotiations did not only begin during the 20th Congress.
On May 17 last year, during the 19th Congress, Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe said that Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, a second district council member of the Panpanga, was replaced as senior deputy speaker of the House, leaving her not to bear significant responsibilities.
Arroyo and a former Pampanga Third District Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr. Jr.
But the next day, Arroyo said her removal may have been a mistaken view by House leaders as her move attempted to carry out a coup. Arroyo said that the host is no longer her target.
“When I learned of reports that I was alleged to have a ‘coup’ against Speaker Romualdez, I decided I had to speak out to clarify my political stance. Indeed, some of my actions may have been misunderstood, such as my recent visit to an official meeting with members of Congress to South Korea,” she said.
“To be clear, my political goals are three: First, representing the second district of Panampanga. Second, supporting the legislative agenda of the Speaker Romantics and President Marcos. Third, using any experience I have as a former president, when I am asked to do so, I have the help of the former president,” she added.
Read: Arroyo Breaks Silence: My move was misunderstood, I was accused of stage coup
In November of the same year, Arroyo and Davao City Third District Representative Isidro Ungab were deprived of the role of associate speaker after not signing a declaration of support for Romualdez.
The House of Representatives party signed House Resolution (HR) No. 1414, which aims to uphold the integrity and dignity of former House President Rodrigo Duterte after the House was damaged.
Read: Arroyo, ungab was removed as House Deputy speaker
Following the 2025 midterm elections, there is discussion that Navatas City Rep. Toby Tiangco, Rep. Toby Tiangco, Rep. Duke Frasco, Rep. 5 of Cebu, or Albee Benitez, Rep. 20th Congress, will all replace Romualdez as the 20th Congress President.
But then Deputy Speaker David Suarez said there was a new supermajor seat in the House as 285 members expressed support for Romualdez to continue his speakers into the 20th Congress.
Ultimately, Iloilo’s First District Rep. Janette Garin said the number of members supporting Romadez reached 291.
“This is the most cohesive and confident house we have in decades. It’s not only a super seat on the numbers, but a super majority, based on performance and preserved by the powerful, principled and competent leaders of speaker Romualdez.”
Read: Marcos’ Unity Call prevails in House, proven by Supermajority – Solon
Then, on the opening day of the house’s first regular meeting, Romualdez was named Speaker by 269 legislators, and no one nominated Tianco, Frasco or Benitez. However, all three indicate that they will become part of the independent group in the chamber.
But with the 20th Congress only two months away, Romadez’s resignation has been called on for lawmakers to resign as lawmakers are accused of participating in flood control chaos, raising questions about insertions in the 2025 national budget.
