The National Unity Party (NUP) has expelled Deputy Speaker and Cebu Fifth District Rep. Vincent Franco "Duke” Frasco for refusing to continue to support Martin Romualdez as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

In a statement to the media on Saturday, June 7, 2025, NUP President and Camarines Sur Second District Rep. LRay Villafuerte said Frasco's "unilateral decision" was a "blatant breach of the NUP’s official position of unequivocal support for the Speaker to keep his premier post in the next Congress."

Frasco is the husband of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco.

“The party leadership has decided to expel Duke (Frasco) from the NUP because his unilateral decision not to support Rep. Martin’s continued stay as Speaker in the next Congress is a blatant breach of the NUP’s official position of unequivocal support for the Speaker to keep his premier post in the next Congress,” Villafuerte said.

Villafuerte said Frasco should have discussed his decision with the NUP leadership "rather than go out in public and breach our unanimous party decision.” 

“Given that this has been the unanimous stance of our party, Duke’s one-man decision to withdraw support from the Speaker runs counter to the NUP’s official manifestation of support for Congressman Martin—and means his status as a member of our party has become untenable... he should have first discussed his contrary position with our party leadership, rather than go out in public and breach our unanimous party decision,” Villafuerte said.

NUP has said that it will continue to support Romualdez as it continues to support the Bagong Pilipinas vision of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.

"The NUP supports 100% the continuity of the Bagong Pilipinas agenda of President Marcos of better lives for all Filipinos in the second half of his presidency," Villafuerte said.

Frasco has confirmed to Cebu newspaper The Freeman that he did not sign the manifesto supporting Romualdez’ continued speakership. He said he will issue an official statement to explain why he did not do so.

SUPPORT FROM OTHER LAWMAKERS

In a separate statement, House spokesperson Princess Abante said lawmakers from across the country—including those from Central Visayas—recently reaffirmed their support for Romualdez’s continued leadership. 

As of June 7, 2025, Abante said 285 members of the incoming 20th Congress have expressed their support for the Leyte lawmaker.

Abante also said the House remains focused on passing laws that will make food more affordable, healthcare more accessible, jobs more available, and support more sustainable for workers, farmers, and small businesses.

(With reports from GMA News Online)