THE House of Representatives yesterday opened session and elected President Marcos’ first cousin, Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez as Speaker of the 19th Congress.
Romualdez got an overwhelming vote of 282-1 with four abstentions and 22 members who failed to vote. He was unopposed.
Romualdez, the 24th Speaker of the House, was nominated by his nephew and presidential son Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos, who said he did so not out of familial relations but because of Romualdez’s qualifications.
“Much has been said regarding the familial relations of Representative Romualdez to the President but for reasons I have stated prior, one can truly ascertain that his qualifications are beyond sufficient to lead us to great heights. To say that he has not worked his way up through various positions in Congress would be a grave injustice to the effort he has put into his role throughout his 12 years as a legislator,” the young Marcos told the floor during the morning session which began at 10:00 a.m.
Rep. Marcos is Romualdez’s former understudy, having worked as a staff in the majority leader’s office for much of the 18th Congress, especially during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Consequentially, it is through this rationale that I put forth the nomination of the Honorable Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez as the 24th Speaker of the House of Representatives for the 19th Congress of the Republic of the Philippines,” the presidential son said.
The motion was seconded by Batangas Rep. Ralph G. Recto (Nacionalista Party), Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab (Lakas-CMD), Antipolo City Rep. Roberto Puno (National Unity Party), Las Piñas City Rep. Camille A. Villar (Nacionalista Party), Ilocos Sur Rep. Kristine Singson-Meehan (Nationalist People’s Coalition), Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) party-list Rep. Raymond Democrito C. Mendoza and Pampanga Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. (PDP-Laban).
OFW party-list Rep. Marissa Magsino and the three members of the Makabayan bloc – party-list Reps. Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas, Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) party-list Rep. France Castro, and Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel – abstained from voting.
Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman, who is vying to be the minority leader, voted no.
By tradition, the candidate for speaker who received the second highest number of votes becomes the minority leader but since no one was nominated to challenge Romualdez, those who did not vote for him will have to choose the minority leader among themselves and notify the new House leadership once a decision is made.
Lagman, a member of the opposition, earlier urged Romualdez to allow the formation of a legitimate minority bloc and do away with the old practice of forming a “company union” led by a pseudo minority leader.
4Ps party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan is also reportedly vying to become the minority leader.
Zamboanga City Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe was elected majority leader, being a party mate of the Speaker who is the president of the new ruling party.
‘CONSENSUS-BUILDER’
In his twelve solid years of legislative experience, Rep. Marcos said his uncle is “best known as a consensus-builder” among his colleagues who regard him “with great affection and respect.”
“He values everyone’s opinion and exudes the charm to get everyone to voluntarily and conscientiously work together towards a common goal. Because of this positive trait, he, along with other members of the 18th Congress, were able to usher with expediency the two critical Bayanihan bills in the House of Representatives during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, just when the country needed these laws the most,” he said.
The young Marcos said Romualdez’s competence is “far beyond dispute.”
“His professional experience as a lawyer and banking executive allow him to take an analytical and corporate approach to economic issues that require suitable legislation,” he said.
Recto, a former senator, said Romualdez “can shepherd the bills that can help our country as skillfully as he can stop the ones that harm our people.”
“He knows the policies that need to be crafted and the pragmatism to get them passed. I am confident that with him, a constitutionalist, at the helm, he will keep the plenary a hospitable space for all opinions, while keeping the conveyor belt of laws moving. In these trying times, he is the leader we need who could marshal our collective will and wisdom in tackling the brave and bold things that must be done,” he said.
‘FAIR AND EQUITABLE’
Romualdez took his oath as the 24th Speaker before Tarlac Rep. Jaime D. Cojuangco, youngest member of the 19th Congress at age 25, as his wife, Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez, and his children, Andrew, Marty, Minxie, and Maddey accompanied him during the ceremony at the plenary rostrum.
“I am deeply elated beyond words for the trust and confidence you have reposed upon me, you my distinguished fellow Members of this august chamber. Your unqualified support has overwhelmed me and with high hopes that together, we shall hurdle the challenges that we face at this stage of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the Speaker said in his acceptance speech.
“We are confident that with the unity that our President has espoused, we can actually overcome the crippling effects of this pandemic, political differences, or the impacts of the Ukrainian war,” he added.
Romualdez vowed to attend to all the concerns of the constituents of every House member, saying: “I shall try to be as fair as possible and favor no one.”
“There will be fair and equitable distribution of resources for development of our regions, regardless of political affiliation. Every Filipino family must be included in any development agenda. No one gets left behind. I will keep my office always open, available to all representatives, members of the House for we are the House of the people, majority and minority. Priority will be given to those willing to share the aspirations of their constituents with me,” he said.
Former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, a former Speaker, of Pampanga was elected senior deputy speaker during Monday’s session but she was unable to attend after testing positive for COVID-19.
Also elected deputy speakers were Ungab, Puno, Villar, Singson-Meehan, and Mendoza.
Reginald “Reggie” Velasco and retired PMGEN. Napoleon C. Taas were elected as House secretary general and sergeant-at-arms, respectively.
Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, chair of Lakas-CMD, also physically witnessed the election of Romualdez as Speaker while wearing a Bagobo-Tagabawa tribe traditional dress, her attire for President Marcos’ first State of the Nation Address (SONA) later in the afternoon.
Romualdez was among the campaign managers of President Marcos in the May 9 general elections.
