Romualdez resigns as House speaker amid alleged corruption, budget woes

17 Sep 2025, 07:25 by Dominique Nicole Flores · philstar

MANILA, Philippines — Rep. Martin Romualdez has resigned as House speaker of the 20th Congress, just as allegations of flood control corruption and budget insertions have recently plagued the chamber under his leadership.

Around 3:20 p.m. on Wednesday, Romualdez stood before the full chamber one last time, delivering his final wishes for the legislature and ultimately closing a stint that began in 2022.

"Leadership also demands that we confront the trials of the present. ... The longer I stay, the heavier that burden grows — on me, on this House, and on the President I have always sought to support," Romualdez said.

"And so, after deep reflection and prayer, I have made a decision. Today, with a full heart and a clear conscience, I tender my resignation as Speaker of the House of Representatives," he added.

Romualdez cited the issues hounding the government's infrastructure projects in his final speech as speaker. He said he hopes his resignation would allow the Independent Commission for Infrastructure to "pursue its mandate freely and fully."

"I step down not in surrender, but in service — for sometimes, the greatest act of leadership is the grace to let go, so that this institution may endure stronger than before," Romualdez said.

There were efforts to unseat Romualdez in recent weeks, but it took a resignation to seal his exit. Even if he was the president’s cousin, he wasn’t safe.

Romualdez stepping down, however, seemed calculated, unfolding as the House faced escalating criticism over alleged kickbacks in public works like flood control and efforts to “manipulate” the budget for their own vested interests.

These controversies have implicated him in congressional investigations, including claims of bribery which he denied.

In other words, this was Romualdez’s final straw. To support the president’s independent probe into flood control anomalies, bowing out seemed to have been the only way.

Leave would be ‘moot’

It was only a question of how to unseat Romualdez, with talk limited to sending him on leave or pressing for his resignation, as no ouster took place, according to Tuesday’s reports.

After Romualdez left the Batasan Complex to meet President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in Malacañang, sources told Philstar.com on Tuesday evening that no leave of absence was in the works.

If this took place, the 11 deputy speakers would need to elect a temporary speaker, which would mean Romualdez still holds the speakership upon his return.

This explains why one source told Philstar.com that a leave would be “moot,” as “an election for speakership” was already set for Wednesday.

But just when did support for Romualdez’s speakership begin to falter?

The triggers

A year ago, cracks in the Marcos-Duterte tandem emerged as the House investigated Vice President Sara Duterte’s confidential funds.

What started as scrutiny snowballed into a full-blown probe and her eventual impeachment by a supermajority — setting off challenges to Romualdez’s speakership.

Some lawmakers had also grown unhappy under his leadership, saying he fostered more division over the past year, sowing public distrust in the government.

Their discontent deepened after the administration’s senatorial bets suffered a dismal showing in the 2025 midterms, rendering the shake-up less surprising.

Among them was Rep. Toby Tiangco (Navotas, Lone District), the Alyansa slate’s campaign manager.

Elections. In the aftermath of the polls, he faulted Duterte’s impeachment for the administration securing only roughly half of its Senate bets, saying the House’s move had hurt their turnout.

Rep. Duke Frasco (Cebu, 5th District) and Rep. Albee Benitez (Bacolod, Lone District) were also among those who publicly criticized Romualdez’s leadership.

Even Rep. Kiko Barzaga (Cavite, 4th District), a 27-year-old neophyte lawmaker, waded into the shake-up’s chaos despite initially denying any plans to oust Romualdez.

While Tiangco, Frasco and Benitez were floated as possible successors, they pointed to one another instead of stepping forward themselves.

However, no attempts flourished as this may have also been a matter of securing enough votes and waiting for the president’s endorsement. Romualdez even ran unopposed as the 20th Congress convened.

Nearly two-decade political career

Before serving as speaker in the 19th and briefly in the 20th Congress, Romualdez was House majority leader in the 18th Congress during the Duterte administration.

Romualdez earlier completed three terms from 2007 to 2016 as representative of Leyte’s 1st District. His wife, Rep. Yedda Romualdez, and son, Rep. Andrew Julian Romualdez, have since joined him in public office.

Romualdez’s term as speaker may be remembered not only for the controversies but also for allowing Duterte’s impeachment, which he defended until the very end.