MANILA, Philippines – Speaker Martin Romualdez is facing mounting pressure to vacate his post as head of the 318-member House of Representatives, as the multibillion-peso flood control scandal engulfs Congress.
Multiple sources confirmed that Romualdez met with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Malacañang on Monday, September 15, fueling speculation that he may soon step down. His absence during the afternoon plenary only added to the buzz.
Lawmakers say Isabela 6th District Representative Faustino “Bojie” Dy is being groomed as Romualdez’s replacement, with a possible transition as early as Tuesday.
The push for leadership change comes as the Senate, the House, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and other agencies investigate “ghost projects” worth billions of pesos, implemented between 2022 and 2025. Many of these projects were funneled through congressional insertions in the national budget — with critics pointing to Romualdez’s close allies as beneficiaries.
Civil society groups are preparing a massive rally on September 21 to condemn what they describe as systemic plunder in public works, intensifying pressure on the Speaker and his leadership bloc.