House Speaker Martin Romualdez announced his resignation on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, citing the need to defend the House of Representatives’ reputation amid growing controversy over alleged corruption in flood control projects. According to Antipolo City 1st District Representative Ronaldo Puno, Romualdez’s decision comes as he faces scrutiny linked to irregularities in government infrastructure contracts.
Romualdez has recommended Isabela 6th District Representative Faustino “Bojie” Dy III to succeed him as the new House Speaker. Dy is a member of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas and an ally of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The endorsement suggests a strategic move to maintain political continuity and stability within the House leadership.
The resignation follows allegations implicating Romualdez and other lawmakers in receiving kickbacks from flood control projects awarded to certain contractors. President Marcos has pledged an independent investigation into the matter, emphasizing that no one involved in wrongdoing will be spared from accountability. Romualdez met with the President on Tuesday to discuss his decision to step down.
Romualdez’s departure marks a significant shift in the House of Representatives’ leadership. While party leaders had advised him to consider a temporary leave instead of resignation, Romualdez opted for a definitive exit to address the reputational impact on the legislative body. The move underscores the pressures facing political leaders amid intensifying anti-corruption efforts.
The House now looks toward Dy’s potential leadership as it navigates legislative priorities and ongoing probes into government project allocations. With President Marcos pushing for transparency in the probe, the political fallout and implications for other officials implicated in the controversy remain to be seen. Romualdez’s resignation highlights the challenges of addressing graft allegations in Philippine governance.
###
