Romualdez named Speaker anew; Sandro promoted to majority leader
Credit to Author: Delon Porcalla| Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0800
MANILA, Philippines — Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez has been named anew as speaker of the House of Representatives after gaining the support of 269 of 315 lawmakers.
“I reaffirm our shared commitment: to be a House that is transparent in conduct, firm in principle and always responsive to the needs of our people,” Romualdez, first cousin of President Marcos, said yesterday at the first regular session of the 20th Congress.
Romualdez is on his third and last term, serving for nine years by 2028.
The President’s eldest son, Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos, has been unanimously elected as majority leader by 290 House members.
Sandro had served as senior deputy majority leader in the 19th Congress.
Over 80 percent, or 212 of 254 district representatives in the lower chamber, belong to political dynasties, according to the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism.
Quezon Rep. David Suarez has been designated as senior deputy speaker.
Suarez has nine deputy speakers under him: Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin, Lanao del Sur Rep. Yasser Alonto Balindong, La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega V, Zambales Rep. Jay Khonghun, Ilocos Sur Rep. Kristine Singson-Meehan, Antipolo Rep. Ronnie Puno, Isabela Rep. Faustino Dy III, Iloilo Rep. Ferjenel Biron and TUCP party-list Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza.
The House’s oldest member, 83-year-old Bulacan Rep. Salvador Pleyto Sr., swore Romualdez into office.
Pleyto also administered the oath to the youngest House member, 25-year-old neophyte lawmaker Andrew Julian Romualdez of Tingog party-list.
The Romualdez clan, including the Speaker’s mother and his wife Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Marie, were at the rostrum for the oath-taking and photo shoot.
Meanwhile, 37 lawmakers have abstained from voting for a House speaker.
Of the number, seven declared independence from the majority and minority blocs of the House.
The Davao bloc of the Dutertes and their ally walked out of the plenary hall yesterday after the roll call for the election of a new speaker.
Davao City Representatives Paolo Duterte, Omar Duterte and Isidro Ungab and Pwersa ng Pilipinong Pandaragat party-list Rep. Harold Duterte are members of this bloc.
“I did not vote for speaker and I did not join the so-called minority because I refuse to take part in a political circus that has long forgotten who it is supposed to serve – the Filipino people,” Paolo said.
“What we are seeing is not governance. It is a game of thrones being played at the expense of the people,” he added.
Bacolod City Rep. Albee Benitez said he will not vote for Romualdez as House speaker.
“I believe our chamber needs a leader who will stand firmly behind President Marcos – not pull him down – and can help unite the nation behind his vision for the country,” he said.
Benitez is close to the Marcoses. His father, the late Jolly Benitez, was former first lady Imelda Marcos’ deputy minister in the 1970s.
Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco and Cebu Rep. Duke Frasco also abstained from voting for speaker, declaring themselves independent congressmen.
Tiangco had served as campaign manager of the administration’s Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas in the midterm polls.
House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan, meanwhile, is keeping his post with the support of 29 other members of the minority bloc.
“With confidence in his ability to lead with honor, wisdom and dedication, we affirm our collective support for Rep. Libanan as minority leader,” the minority’s manifesto read.
Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima and veteran human rights lawyer Chel Diokno of the progressive Akbayan party-list are members of the minority bloc.
De Lima and Diokno are members of the 11-man House prosecution team headed by Libanan in Vice President Sara Duterte’s blocked impeachment trial.
Libanan had served as immigration commissioner of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Other minority lawmakers who voted for Libanan were Akbayan party-list Reps. Percival Cendaña and Dadah Kiram Ismula, Alliance of Concerned Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, Kabataan party-list Rep. Renee Louise Co, Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice and Dinagat Islands Rep. Arlene Bag-ao.
AGAP party-list Rep. Nicanor Briones, APEC party-list Rep. Sergio Dagooc, Bagong Henerasyon party-list Rep. Roberto Gerard Nazal Jr., Galing sa Puso party-list Rep. Jan Rurik Padiernos, Kamanggagawa party-list Rep. Elijah San Fernando, LPGMA party-list Rep. Allan Ty, Nanay party-list Rep. Florabel Yatco, Philreca party-list Rep. Presley de Jesus, Pusong Pinoy party-list Rep. Jernie Jett Nisay, SAGIP party-list Rep. Paolo Henry Marcoleta, Swerte party-list Rep. Arlyn Ayon and 4Ps party-list Rep. Jonathan Clement Abalos II are also included.
Albay Rep. Cielo Krisel Lagman-Luistro, Bukidnon Rep. Audrey Zubiri, Cebu City Rep. Rachel Marguerite Del Mar, Eastern Samar Rep. Christopher Gonzales, Northern Samar Rep. Niko Raul Daza, Quezon City Rep. Jesus Suntay and Samar Reps. Stephen James Tan and Reynolds Michael Tan also voted for Libanan. — Diana Lhyd Suelto, Edith Regalado, Jose Rodel Clapano