Martin Romualdez re-elected as House Speaker
Leyte's first district representative, Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, retained his post as Speaker of the House of Representatives in the 20th Congress.
During the First Regular Session of the 20th Congress at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City on July 28, Romualdez was re-elected in an uncontested race, winning by a landslide for the Speakership with 269 votes.
He was nominated by Quezon's 2nd district rep. David "Jay-jay" Suarez, seconded by Congressmen Sando Marcos, Mark Enverga, Ronaldo Puno, Yevgeny Vicente Emano, and Raymond Mendoza.
The majority of the House members expressed their confidence in Romualdez's capability to lead.
"Speaker Romualdez has led with decisiveness, vision, and inclusivity, never shying away from criticism, but instead welcoming dialogue and cooperation in the spirit of public service. His ability to unify diverse voices toward common national goals is a testament to his strength as a leader and a statesman. With confidence, I believe he will continue to lead the 20th Congress with the same dedication and integrity, always in the best interest of the Filipino people," Lanao del Sur 1st district rep. Zia Adiong said in a statement.
"[Martin Romualdez] has shown principled, inclusive, and results-driven leadership. He led one of the most productive Congresses of our history, acted swiftly to address rising food prices, and championed reforms that strengthened our economy, protected our people, and upheld the vision of Bagong Pilipinas," Cong. Enverga said in a statement.
After the voting, Romualdez officially took his oath as the House Speaker. In his speech, he vowed to advance reforms for the Filipino people. "We are not here to preserve power, but to pursue progress. Not to serve ourselves, but to uplift the lives of our fellow citizens," he said.
He also stood firm on the House's position on the impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte. "Let me say this with the utmost respect: the Supreme Court has spoken, and we recognize its decision. But let it never be said that the House of the people vowed in silence."
"At the time, we draw the line; The power to initiate impeachment is the exclusive domain of this chamber," he said. "It's never granted nor guided by any institution."
"The Court may close the case, but it cannot close a cause. The pursuit of accountability is not a moment; it is our mandate," he added.
He stressed that they are not driven by vendetta, but by vigilance. "Our goal has never been to destroy, only to demand the truth. When institutions falter, the House of the People always stands firm."
"As your Speaker, I will be here not just to preside, but to protect," Romualdez said. "I reaffirm our common commitment to be a House that is transparent in conduct, firm in principle, and responsive to the needs of our people. We shall lead with competence, legislate with compassion, and govern with integrity."
Meanwhile, his nephew and the eldest son of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Rep. Sandro Marcos, was elected House Majority Leader in his second term in Congress. In this role, he will serve as the spokesman of the majority party and direct deliberations on the House floor. He will also chair the Committee on Rules, where he will oversee the legislative calendar, prepare the Order of Business, and manage the Calendar of Business.
The House members who did not vote for Romualdez will proceed with a separate election for the minority leader.
Rep. Paolo Duterte walks out
34 members of the House abstained from voting. Meanwhile, Rep. Paolo Duterte “walked out” of the House session after the roll call and refused to vote for the Speaker or join the House Minority.
PPP party-list Rep. Harold James Duterte, Davao 2nd District Rep. Omar Vincent Duterte, and Davao 3rd District Rep. Isidro Ungab also did not cast their votes, declaring themselves independent members of the House.
"I refuse to take part in a political circus that has long forgotten who it is supposed to serve- the Filipino people," Duterte said in a statement. "I will not lend my name nor my vote to any side that treats leadership as a prize, not responsibility," he added.
He called the House a "hollow theater where the script is written by the powerful, and the rest are hanging."
"I did not run for Congress to play along. I ran to represent the interests of my constituents—with honor, conviction, and the courage to walk away from what is wrong," he ended.
Romualdez served as the speaker of the 19th Congress. His notable achievements include leading the House for the impeachment of VP Duterte, as well as forming quad committees for the probe into the former president Rodrigo Duterte's bloody war on drugs, and the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators.
Romualdez has been the representative of Leyte's 1st district from 2007 to 2016, and from 2016 to 2025. He served as the Majority Leader from 2019 to 2022. He is also the president of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats political party.
In the Senate, Francis "Chiz" Escudero also held onto his position as Senate President.
