After Martin Romualdez’s exit, Palace vows ‘constructive collaboration’ with House

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A four sentence statement caps off — for now — an eventful, sometimes tumultuous first three years with cousins Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Ferdinand Martin Romualdez as heads of co-equal branches of government

In bidding goodbye to House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s cousin and long-time ally, Malacañang chose a curiously neutral tone.

The Palace touched not on the long filial and personal bond of the two Ferdinands, but instead focused on the promised “constructive collaboration” with lawmakers, as well as Romualdez’s successor and the President’s partymate, newly-elected Speaker Faustino Dy III. 

“The President recognizes the vital role of the House of Representatives, especially at a time when the public demands visible results and Congress is called upon to take active steps that address people’s concerns and deliver real improvements in daily life,” said the Palace in a statement late Wednesday, September 17, hours after Romualdez announced his resignation and Dy took his oath. 

“We respect the independence of the chamber and acknowledge the contributions of former Speaker Martin Romualdez. We now look forward to working with Speaker Faustino Dy III to advance measures that strengthen the economy, ensure basic services, and protect our democracy,” said Malacañang in a statement released through the Presidential Communications Office. 

“The Administration remains committed to constructive collaboration with all lawmakers to keep the focus on the needs of Filipino families and move the nation forward.” 

Romualdez’s resignation is backdropped by outrage over corruption linked to substandard or non-existent flood control and infrastructure projects — a public crackdown that was triggered by Marcos’ fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), delivered in the very hall where the former speaker delivered his resignation speech.

The former speaker himself has been linked to these anomalous projects, by a contractor speaking before the Senate. A close ally of Romualdez, former appropriations chairperson Zaldy Co, has also been linked to anomalous projects as well.   

Marcos has since created an independent commission to probe flood control and infrastructure projects from the last 10 years. 

The four-sentence statement from Malacañang caps off — for now — what’s been an eventful, and sometimes tumultuous first three years or so of the Marcos administration. 

Romualdez was elected House Speaker in late July 2022, when the 19th Congress opened. He was not the only member of the Romualdez clan to be elected to a choice position in the House. His former aide and nephew, presidential son Ilocos Norte Representative Ferdinand Alexander Marcos III, was elected then senior deputy majority leader. 

Then-speaker Romualdez’s wife, Tingog Representative Yedda Romualdez was chairperson of the powerful accounts committee, which controls the House’s finances. In the 20th Congress, a third Romualdez joined the national legislature: Martin and Yedda’s eldest son Andrew Julian, who also represents Tingog. Representative Marcos is also now the House Majority Leader. 

In a briefing with the media before the former speaker’s formal resignation and Dy’s election, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said Romualdez’s resignation would be welcome, especially if it’s meant to preserve the House’s integrity and ensure an independent probe into flood control and infrastructure projects. Representative Marcos, speaking to the media on September 16, said this was also his uncle’s reason for stepping down. 

The three Ferdinands — President Marcos, former speaker Romualdez, and Representative Marcos — had met on Tuesday, September 16, the youngest of the three Romualdez men confirmed to media. It was in that meeting, said Representative Marcos, that his uncle informed the President of his resignation.

Sources indicated that things got emotional during that meeting — although it’s hard to tell how Representatives Martin Romualdez and Sandro Marcos presented themselves. 

President Marcos himself has not made a public statement on his cousin’s resignation. 

Martin Romualdez’s exit as House Speaker was a long-time coming, by all indications — allies of President Marcos, including a legislator related to the Romualdez clan by affinity, were openly floated as possible replacements in the 20th Congress. Yet the numbers were all in Martin Romualdez’s favor — until he announced he was stepping down, at least according to Representative Marcos.  

The most public of disagreements between cousins President Marcos and former speaker Romualdez was over what would turn out to be the 2025 budget, which the executive had to overhaul because it did not align with its spending priorities.

Word has it that it’s that budget, as passed by Congress, that prompted a scolding for Romualdez and Co — either from the President himself or First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, dependng on who you talk to. 

The 2025 budget mess, it turns out, was merely a preview of the bigger mess that would be corruption related to infrastructure projects. 

Marcos himself has promised that none of his allies — Martin Romualdez included — would be spared from the independent probe. 

Will the Palace be as steely if the results of that probe implicates close allies, including the President’s relatives? We await the statements that will come. – Rappler.com