House Speaker Martin Romualdez (Courtesy: House of Representatives)
House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez will voluntarily step down from his post later today, Deputy Speaker and Antipolo City 1st District Rep. Ronaldo Puno announced.
Deputy Speaker and Isabela Sixth District Representative Faustino Dy III will assume the Speakership, a move that has President Marcos’ blessing, the Antipolo solon also said.
“Kahapon, 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 at tulungan siya, ‘yung rekomendado ni Speaker Martin para sa epektibong pamamahala ng ating Kamara,” Puno said in a radio interview.
Puno emphasized that Romualdez will relinquish his post voluntarily, adding that it had been in the works “weeks ago” amid a controversy over anomalous flood control projects.
“Masyado na daw ang kontrobersya. Gusto niyang ipagtanggol ang reputasyon ng Mababang Kapulungan. Siyempre kami naman ay kinukumbinse siya na wag siyang magbitiw lalong-lalo na dahil dito sa ating panahon ng kaguluhan, hindi maaaring maging unstable ang ating Kamara,” he added.
