Romualdez step downs as House speaker

Metro Manila, Philippines - Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez has resigned as House speaker amid the government investigation on the flood control scandal.

The resignation of Romualdez, the cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., is in the middle of a government audit on questionable flood control projects.

Controversial contractors Sarah and Pacifico Discaya have implicated Romualdez in the scandal. Romualdez has denied the allegation.

“Sabi niya tatabi na lang daw siya para maharap niya lahat ng mga akusasyon, mga tsismis, mga kung anong paratang sa kanya hinggil dito sa mga flood control at kung ano pa ‘yan,” Deputy Speaker Ronnie Puno.

[Translation: Romualdez said he will step aside to face the accusations, the gossip, and other allegations against him on flood control and other things.]

Puno said Romualdez has already informed the president of his decision. He added Romualdez told party leaders about his move in a meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 16, noting Majority Leader Sandro Marcos appeared unhappy during the meeting.

“Tahimik lang siya [He was quiet]… Siyempre [Of course] if you're majority leader in the House, any major shake-up like that will not be a happy thing,” Puno said.

Puno added that Romualdez has been contemplating on resigning for weeks now, and his family has advised the speaker to step aside.

He said Romualdez has asked his colleagues to support Isabela Rep. Bojie Dy, a deputy speaker, as the new speaker..

The decision of Romualdez rounds up a leadership shakeup in Congress after the ouster of Chiz Escudero as Senate president, and who was implicated as well in the flood control mess since his top campaign donor was in the list of contractors disclosed by Marcos that bagged the most number of projects.

Not spared from probe

In a news briefing, Malacañang confirmed that Romualdez met with Marcos on Tuesday. No other details were given.

Should Romualdez resign, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro assured the public that the lawmaker will not evade accountability on his alleged links in the flood control mess.

“Magiging maayos ito at katanggap-tanggap kung ang kanyang dahilan ay para maisalba rin ang integridad ng institusyon at para nga sa malayang pag-iimbestiga,” Castro said of Romualdez’s resignation.

[Translation: The resignation may be decent and acceptable if his reason is to save the integrity of the institution and for a freer investigation.]

She said that if Romualdez were to face evidence linking him to the anomalies, it would be better for the presidential cousin to defend himself through showing of records and other related documents.

“Mag-resign, hindi siya mag-resign, maaari pa rin siyang maimbestigahan,” the Palace official said.

[Translation: Should he resign or not, he should be investigated.]

In Monday’s briefing, Marcos said Romualdez and his allies will not be spared from the investigation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure.