Tito Sotto eyes ‘excellent’ relationship with new Speaker Bojie Dy

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Wednesday welcomed the election of Isabela 6th District Representative Faustino "Bojie" Dy III as the new House Speaker, saying that he expects an “excellent” relationship between both chambers, especially amid the ongoing 2026 budget deliberations.

Dy earlier replaced Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez as the leader of the lower chamber after the latter resigned from the post. 

Sotto, who also just recently replaced Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero as Senate President, said that Dy’s selection was a “very good choice” for the House members as he has had no bad records throughout his career as a public official. 

“I’m sure he’s capable and it’ll be good for the House,” he said in an ambush interview. 

“I expect a very, very good, in fact, excellent relationship between the House and the Senate,” he added. 

Sotto also expressed belief that under a new leadership, a “cleaner” 2026 national budget will be approved by Congress. 

“Ay sigurado (That’s for sure). We’ll make sure this time because there will be live streaming, not only in the deliberations, not only in the hearings, but also on the floor and the bicameral conference committee and whatever form of bicameral conference will be done. I will make sure that Speaker Bojie and I, we’ll make sure that there is live streaming so that the people will know where the money goes,” he emphasized. 

‘Selective amnesia’

Meanwhile, Escudero also praised Dy assuming the speakership, saying that he is confident that the experience and steady leadership of the new House leader “will serve the House well during this critical period.”

“This transition, however, should not distract us from the unresolved issues surrounding past budgets and infrastructure anomalies. Leadership changes must lead to institutional reform, not selective amnesia,” Escudero said. 

“I wish Speaker Dy the very best. I trust that he will rise to the challenge and steer the House toward greater integrity and responsiveness to the people’s concerns,” he added. 

Senator Imee Marcos also said that Dy is a good person, but expressed concern that he may have a difficult time as House Speaker. 

“Ang problema ko, masyadong mabait si Bojie. Kawawa naman ang hirap ng lugar niya… Kilala ko si Bojie bata pa kami. Magkasama kami sa Kabataang Barangay. Sobrang bait nung tao awang awa ako sa kanya…ang hirap ng sitwasyon niya eh,” she said in an ambush interview.

(My problem is, Bojie is too kind. I pity him because he’s in a difficult situation. I’ve known Bojie since when we were young. We were together in Kabataang Barangay. That person is very kind, I feel sorry for him… He  is in a difficult situation.)

“Magaling si Bojie kaya lang ang depekto lang niya, sobrang bait. Ayun na nga, eh marami talagang magpapalusot, maraming magde-demand. Naku, napakahirap ng sitwasyon niya—argurably the worst job in the world,” she continued.

(Bojie is good, but his only flaw is that he is too kind. Many people will try to find excuses and make demands. He’s in a very difficult situation—argurably the worst job in the world.) 

Sign of guilt? 

Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa also questioned why Romualdez stepped down from the top House post.

“Is that a sign of guilt? Bakit siya nag-resign? (Why did he resign?) Sign of guilt ba ‘yun (is that a sign of guilt)… about the accusation, about problema natin sa flood control,” Dela Rosa said.

He also said that Dy is a good person and that the new House Speaker helped him when he first ran as senator during the 2019 elections. 

Contractor spouses Curlee and Sarah Discaya earlier alleged that lawmakers and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials who ask them for commissions off government projects frequently mention the name of Romualdez and former House appropriations panel chairperson Zaldy Co in relation to commissions from flood control projects projects.

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 other involved parties. 

Romualdez has denied the Discaya couple’s allegations, but on Wednesday conceded that leadership demands him to “confront the trials of the present” and build back public trust. — RF, GMA Integrated News

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