ILOILO City – Iloilo’s representatives in the Lower House voted as a bloc in support of Isabela congressman Faustino “Bojie” Dy III, who was elected as the new Speaker following the resignation of Leyte’s Cong. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez amid flood control project controversies
Iloilo City’s Cong. Julienne Baronda, 1st District’s Cong. Janette Garin, 2nd District’s Cong. Kathy Gorriceta, 3rd District’s Cong. Lorenz Defensor, and 4th District’s Cong. Ferjenel Biron all cast their votes for Dy.
Conspicuously absent from the roll call, however, were Uswag Ilonggo party-list’s Cong. Jojo Ang and 5th District’s Cong. Binky April Tupas. Their absence during a critical leadership vote sparked questions about whether it was due to scheduling conflicts or a deliberate choice to distance themselves from the unfolding power shift.
Dy’s assumption of the speakership came swiftly after Romualdez informed lawmakers of his plan to step down during a caucus.
Antipolo City’s Cong. Ronaldo Puno revealed that Romualdez personally endorsed Dy as his successor before leaving his post.
“Pinatawag kami ng ating Speaker Martin Romualdez at sinabihan niya kami na balak na niyang magbitiw sa kanyang pwesto ngayong araw na ito, so rinekomenda niya sa mga party leaders na kung pwede iboto namin si Deputy Speaker Bojie Dy,” Puno said
Romualdez’s resignation was prompted by mounting allegations of irregularities in multibillion-peso flood control projects, with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier saying that his cousin and congressional allies would “not be spared” from investigation./PN
