• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A new House Speaker was elected yesterday, as Leyte Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, a first cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, stepped down after he and several other lawmakers were linked to the flood control projects scandal which involved billions of pesos.
During the vote for the new House Speaker, Isabela 6th District Rep. Faustino “Bojie” Dy III, garnered 253 votes, with 28 abstentions, and zero negative votes.
The Negros Island Region solons who voted for Dy were Bacolod Lone District Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and his son, Negros Occidental Third District Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez; Rep. Alfredo Marañon III (Negros Occ., 2nd district), Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer (Negros Occ., 4th district), Rep. Emilio Bernardino Yulo (Negros Occ., 5th district), Rep. Mercedes Alvarez (Negros Occ., 6th district); Abang Lingkod partylist Rep. Manuel Frederick Ko; Rep. Emmanuel Iway (Negros Or., 1st district); and Rep. Janice Degamo (Negros Or., 3rd district).
Rep. Julio Ledesma IV (Negros Occ., 1st district) and Siquijor Rep. Zaldy Villa were not present, while the name of Rep. Isabel Sagarbarria (Negros Or., 2nd district) was not called.
Ledesma, Sagarbarria and Villa were among the eight NIR solons who earlier signed a manifesto expressing their support to the leadership of Romualdez.
Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez administered the oathtaking of Dy as the newly-elected House Speaker.
Bacolod lone district Rep. Albee Benitez welcomed the change in leadership in the House of Representatives, calling it “the best way to move forward.”
“That’s a good move, that is probably the best way to move forward para at least makita na natin at mahanap ang mga katotohanan sa problema that’s rocking the House,” Benitez said.
Dy belongs to the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, where the elder Benitez is a member.
Benitez earlier called for a change in leadership in the Lower House, which he said was necessary for “a new image” amid the controversy on the government’s flood control projects.
With this new leadership, we look forward to strengthening transparency, accountability, and unity in Congress as we work toward real solutions for the challenges our nation faces and the brighter future our people deserve, the Bacolod solon said.
As to the expected change in committee chairmanships and deputy speakerships, Benitez said that he will await the new Speaker’s decisions on the matter.
On the other hand, Dy, in his first speech as Speaker, vowed that he would “not defend the guilty and not shield the corrupt” as he assumes leadership of a lower chamber plagued by anomalies surrounding public works projects.
He acknowledged that the House of Representatives has fallen short of its duties and asked the public for a chance to straighten up and clean its ranks.
“Under my leadership, this House will change. I will not defend the guilty, I will not shield the corrupt,” Dy said.
Dy assured the public that the House of Representatives would work to earn back the trust of the people by pursuing budget reforms, ensuring transparency, and helping address corruption in questionable flood control projects.
He emphasized that under his leadership, the House would not tolerate corruption or impunity, would cooperate fully with the ICI, and would ensure that all inquiries into corruption are conducted openly and fairly.* with PNA reports
