Speaker Romualdez resigning, says Antipolo Rep. Puno

Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez will resign from his post on Wednesday and has called on his colleagues in the House of Representatives to support the election of Isabela Rep. Faustino "Bojie" Dy III as his replacement, House Deputy Speaker and Antipolo Rep. Ronaldo Puno said.

"Magbibitiw na siya [bilang Speaker]," Puno said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

"The Speaker said yesterday that he wants us to support Bojie Dy," Puno added.

He said Romualdez is stepping down so as to free the House from allegations that it is not capable of conducting an independent probe on flood control projects.

"If he will just go on leave, people will just say he is just using his position to influence the House. He will resign so it is clear cut," he added.

Contractor spouses Curlee and Sarah Discaya earlier alleged that lawmakers who ask them for commissions off government projects frequently mentioned the name of Romualdez and former House appropriations panel chairperson Zaldy Co to expedite the payoff.

Romualdez and several House members denied links to kickbacks from flood control projects alleged by the Discayas.

Curlee, however, later clarified that he never had a direct transaction with Romualdez and that the names of the Speaker and Co were just being name dropped by those who have been asking for commissions.

Puno said that Romualdez backed Dy as his successor as the latter is one of the deputy speakers and one of the leaders of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.'s political party, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP).

"Congressman Dy has a good relationship with the House members, so it was expected that the Speaker asked us to support him. I would think the Speaker and [House] Majority Leader Sandro Marcos also discussed this and brought it before the President, and the President agreed," Puno said.

The President met Romualdez and Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos on Tuesday afternoon while the session in the House was suspended amid rumored efforts to unseat Romualdez, said Puno

Puno then expressed confidence that Dy already has the speakership in the bag.

"Puwede naman siguro, karapatan naman nila 'yan. Libre naman mangarap. Pero majority na, ang tingin ko, nandito sa panig na ito (Dy)," Puno said when asked if there is anyone who would also vie for the speakership.

(Anybody has the right to run for Speaker. It is free to dream. But I would say majority is already with Dy.)

Dy was seen going inside the Speaker's Office Wednesday morning after the staff of the House cleared out Romualdez's belongings.

Asked if he has spoken with the President, Dy said: "Wala pa, hindi pa napag-usapan (I have yet to talk with the President)."

EXCLUSIVE: Deputy Speaker Bodjie Dy says he has not spoken to the President yet amid reports that he will replace Rep. Martin Romualdez as Speaker of the House in this afternoon’s session.

Dy is now inside the Speaker’s office after House staff cleared out Romualdez’s belongings pic.twitter.com/3ZfE4RYIpq

— Jonathan Andal (@JonathanAndal_) September 17, 2025

Other House leaders also went inside the Speaker's Office. Assistant Majority Leader and Negros Occidental Rep. Javi Benitez said a party leaders' meeting will be held Wednesday morning. 

Asst Majority Leader/Negros Occidental Rep Javi Benitez confirms a party leaders’ meeting will be held this morning. @gmanews @gmanewsbreaking pic.twitter.com/ARbSEiZ1oM

— Tina PanganibanPerez (@tinapperez) September 17, 2025

The House plenary session was suspended on Tuesday amid rumors of efforts to unseat Romualdez.

Asked on Tuesday afternoon if they have the numbers to unseat Romualdez, Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco told reporters that "the most important vote for Speakership is outside the House of Representatives."

Puno agreed with Tiangco.

"That is why the Speaker went to the President and informed him of his decision to resign. So, yeah, definitely. Eh, ganun talaga. I mean, kahit sino namang Speaker sa House, pag hindi mo kasundo 'yung Pangulo, eh, walang mangyayari," Puno said Wednesday.

(It is what it is. No matter who is the Speaker, if you are not in good terms with the President, nothing will happen.)

Romualdez is the president of the ruling party Lakas-CMD which has 113 members in the House..—AOL, GMA Integrated News