House elects Bojie Dy as Speaker

The House of Representatives on Wednesday elected Isabela 6th District Representative Faustino "Bojie" Dy III, replacing Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez at helm of the lower chamber.

Dy's election came with 253 lawmakers voting for him, 28 abstaining, and no negative votes.

The new Speaker was elected after the resignation of Romualdez as Speaker. With Romualdez stepping down, there was no need for any House member to declare the Speaker's position vacant, clearing the way for Dy's election as the top House leader.

Instead, Quezon City Rep. Ralph Tulfo nominated Dy to replace Romualdez. No other House member was nominated to challenge Dy.

In his inaugural address as Speaker, Dy called on the public to give House members a chance to earn their trust.

"Ako na ho ang unang magsasabi sa ating mga kababayan: Mayroon kaming pagkukulang. Kami po ay nagpapakumbaba. Nakikiusap po kami na sana bigyan ninyo kami ng pagkakataong ituwid ang mga maling kalakaran at linisin ang aming hanay," Dy said.

(I will be the one to say that we have shortcomings, and we humbly appeal to you, that you give us a chance to correct the bad practices and clean up our ranks.)

READ: Who is new Speaker Faustino 'Bojie' Dy III?

The new Speaker added, "I will not defend the guilty. I will not shield the corrupt. Like the President said, no rank, no ally, no office will be spared from accountability."

As such, Dy said that the House should fully cooperate with the Independent Commission of Infrastructure’s probe on flood control projects.

“Our duty is not to protect each other. It is to protect the Filipino people,” Dy said.

Prior to being elected as Speaker, Dy served as one of the Deputy Speakers under Romualdez's leadership representing Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP).

PFP is the political party of Romualdez's cousin, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

Romualdez’s resignation came a day after he met with The President, as well as the Chief Executive's son, House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st District Representative Sandro Marcos. — VDV, GMA Integrated News