Palace confirms meeting between Marcos, Romualdez

Malacañang confirmed Wednesday that President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. and Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez met on Tuesday amid talks of change of leadership in the House of Representatives. 

''Ang mai-co-confirm ko lamang po ay nagkita po sila ng Pangulo at 'yung napagusapan po nila ay hindi natin masasabi,'' Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said at a briefing. 

(I can only confirm that he met with the President but I cannot disclose what they discussed.) 

Romualdez will resign from his post on Wednesday, according to House Deputy Speaker and Antipolo Rep. Ronaldo Puno.

Puno said that Romualdez has also called on his colleagues in the House of Representatives to support the election of Isabela Rep. Francisco "Bojie" Dy III as his replacement.

According to Puno, Romualdez is stepping down so as to free the House from allegations that the chamber is not capable of conducting an independent probe into anomalous flood control projects.

Contractor spouses Curlee and Sarah Discaya earlier claimed 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.

A day after however, Curlee 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. 

Romualdez and other House members have denied links to kickbacks from flood control projects as alleged by contractors Sarah and Curlee Discaya at a Senate hearing. He said the claim that his name was supposedly used for commissions was false, malicious, and nothing more than name-dropping.

Won't be spared from probe

Castro, meanwhile, ensured that Romualdez would not be spared in the investigation on corruption even if he quits from his House post.

''Si Speaker Romualdez? Of course, kaya nga iyon ang mangyayari kung mag-ri-resign siya at kahit naman hindi siya mag-resign. At kung masasangkot man ang kaniyang pangalan at may mapapakitang ebidensiya laban sa kaniya, mas magandang ito ay kaniyang depensahan sa pamamagitan ng mga records na maaari niyang ipakita,'' she said.

(Speaker Romualdez? Of course, that's what will happen if he resigns or not. And if his name will be involved and there will be pieces of evidence against him, it would be better if he can defend himself through records that he can show.) 

''Mag-resign, hindi siya mag-resign, maaari pa rin siyang maimbestigahan,'' Castro added.

(Whether he resigns or not, he can still be investigated.) 

Marcos already assured the public that his cousin and other allies would not be spared in the probe of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure into anomalous and ghost flood control projects. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News