THE lower chamber of Congress has welcomed its new leader, following Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez’s resignation as House Speaker on Wednesday, September 17.
Isabela 6th District Representative Faustino “Bojie” Dy III formally assumed his post as the new House Speaker, replacing Romualdez, during the House’s first regular session on Wednesday afternoon. Negros Occidental Representative Javier Miguel “Javi” Benitez administered Dy’s oath of office.
Dy was elected to be the fourth-highest official in the Philippine government with 253 votes. Meanwhile, 28 lawmakers abstained, and four did not vote.
Romualdez, the cousin of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., announced his resignation in the plenary session, “with a full heart and a clear conscience.” He explained that this move is to allow the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) to “pursue its mandate freely and fully.”
The ICI is a three-member fact-finding body mandated to investigate the controversial flood control projects, as well as the alleged anomalies in other government infrastructure projects within the last 10 years. Marcos created the commission amid the ongoing Congressional probe into the flood control scandal.
Before the plenary session, House Deputy Speaker and Antipolo 1st District Representative Ronaldo Puno confirmed to ANC that Romualdez would step down from his post on Wednesday, a decision that he had already discussed with the House party leaders when he convened them “three weeks ago.”
“The reason for this was, he said, there’s just too much controversy in the house already now, and it’s affecting the work that everybody’s doing,” he said.
Puno mentioned the alleged corruption in government-funded flood control projects, which involve billions of pesos in public funds. Several government officials and contractors have been linked to the controversy, including Romualdez, who is accused of receiving kickbacks from the flood control projects. The former House Speaker already denied the allegation.
Puno said they suggested that Romualdez go on leave instead of resigning, which the latter initially considered. In the end, Romualdez opted to step down, so that the public would not think “he’s just on the side” and “still directing things.” Romualdez believed that this would not “solve the problem,” Puno added.
“‘If we’re gonna do this, we might as well come clean,’ he said,” Puno shared, stressing that Romualdez expressed willingness to face the accusations thrown against him and be investigated.
According to Puno, the former House leader will still serve his district as a congressman. He added that Romualdez asked his colleagues to support Dy as their new House speaker.
Who is Bojie Dy?
Even before Romualdez made his resignation official, rumors had circulated about a possible House leadership change, with Dy being eyed as his successor.
Dy, who is a member of the influential Dy political clan in Isabela, was one of the 11 deputy speakers of the 20th Congress who took their oath of office in July.
He is the son of Faustino Dy Sr., the longest serving governor in the province from 1971 to 1986 and from 1988 to 1992. His brothers, Benjamin Dy and Faustino Dy Jr., were also former governors of Isabela.
Before becoming a deputy speaker, Bojie served as a governor of Isabela from 2010 to 2019, and as vice governor from 2019 to 2025. He is a member of the political party Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), chaired by Marcos.
The new House Speaker succeeded his son, current Echague Mayor Faustino “Inno” Dy V, as Isabela 6th District Representative and has authored 25 bills in the 20th Congress.
Bojie is joined by his relatives, Isabela 5th District Representative Faustino Michael Dy III and Isabela 3rd District Representative Ian Paul Dy, in the present Congress.
Romualdez won’t be spared
Meanwhile, Malacañang confirmed in a press briefing on Wednesday that Marcos met Romualdez on Tuesday, but Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro refused to give further details, including what was discussed, about the meeting.
While Romualdez is no longer the House Speaker, Castro said his resignation would not spare him from the ongoing investigations into the anomalous flood control projects.
“Kung masasangkot man ang kaniyang pangalan at may mapapakitang ebidensiya laban sa kaniya, mas magandang ito ay kaniyang depensahan sa pamamagitan ng mga records na maaari niyang ipakita,” Castro stressed.
“Mag-resign, hindi siya mag-resign, maaari pa rin siyang maimbestigahan,” she added.
Castro also said that Romualdez’s resignation would be “acceptable” if it is meant to save the House’s integrity and for independent investigations into the flood control mess.
