Ex-Surigao solon praises Romualdez for ‘selfless’ exit as speaker

A former lawmaker from Mindanao lauded ex-Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Friday for voluntarily stepping down from his post to preserve the integrity of the House of Representatives and allow the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) to freely investigate alleged anomalies in government projects.

Former Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, now Romualdez’s chief communications officer, said the move showed Romualdez was no “kapit tuko” to power.

“Sa kanyang boluntaryong pagbibitiw, labis akong napahanga sa pagkatao ng ating Speaker… handa siyang magsakripisyo huwag lamang masira ang respeto at integridad ng House,” Barbers said in a statement.

Barbers recalled that just days before Romualdez resigned, senior leaders from various political parties had urged him to stay on as Speaker.

Romualdez, however, told the plenary Tuesday that he was stepping down “with a full heart and a clear conscience” so the ICI could pursue its mandate “without doubt, without interference, and without undue influence.”

He said alleged irregularities in infrastructure projects had cast a shadow not just on him but on the chamber itself.

“The longer I stay, the heavier that burden grows—on me, on this House, and on the President I have always sought to support,” Romualdez said.

Romualdez was succeeded by Isabela 6th District Rep. Faustino “Bojie” Dy III, a former deputy speaker and member of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Partido Federal ng Pilipinas.