A FORMER lawmaker from Mindanao on Friday lauded Leyte First District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez for voluntarily stepping down as Speaker of the House of Representatives to maintain the integrity and stability of the legislature and give the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) a free hand in pursuing its mandate to dig up the truth on the alleged anomalies on government infrastructure projects.
Former Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, the designated but short-lived chief communications officer of Romualdez, said while he commiserates with the Speaker on his decision, he said it was a laudable move that proves he (Romualdez) was not power greedy.
“With his voluntary resignation, I was very impressed with the personality of our Speaker because it is a proof that he is not attached to his position and he is willing to make sacrifices so as not to destroy the respect and integrity of the House of Representatives as an institution, including its members,” Barbers said in Filipino.
Barbers, erstwhile chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs and lead chair of Quad Committee, disclosed that few days before the Speaker decided to give up the Speakership, senior leaders of various political parties at the House came over to his office and urged him to stay put and ignore pressures from his political detractors.
“I knew that for a fact because I was there. All of those present in that meeting were concerned on who would replace him, somebody who has same stature that he has who could unify the majority of the members of the chamber,” Barbers narrated.
In his speech before the House plenary last Tuesday, Romualdez, a lawyer and graduate of the University of the Philippines, announced his resignation.
“Today, with a full heart and a clear conscience, I tender my resignation as Speaker of the House of Representatives. I do this so that the Independent Commission on Infrastructure may pursue its mandate freely and fully — without doubt, without interference, and without undue influence,” he said.
Romualdez said he fully and unequivocally embrace the call made by President Marcos during the fourth State of the Nation Address last July “that accountability must prevail and that no one is above scrutiny.”
The alleged irregularities on government infrastructure projects, the Speaker said, have raised questions not only upon himself, but upon the chamber itself.
“The longer I stay, the heavier that burden grows — on me, on this House, and on the President I have always sought to support. And so, after deep reflection and prayer, I have made the decision,” he said. “Let the truth emerge, and let justice be done.”
Romualdez was replaced by Isabela 3rd District Rep. Faustino Dy III, former House Deputy Speaker and a member of President Marcos’ Partido Federal ng Pilipinas.
Obtaining a total of 253 votes from the more than 300 members of the 29th Congress, Barbers said the new House Speaker, like resigned Speaker Romualdez, is seen as coalition builder as a leader and would ensure a smooth transition at the Lower Chamber.
“Speaker Bojie Dy is a veteran politician who is expected to steer the Lower House to the right path and regain public confidence to the recently maligned institution. With his lengthy political experience, serving as vice-mayor and later Mayor of Cauayan, Isabela; as Isabela vice-governor and later Governor, and as Congressman of the 6th District of the province, the new House Speaker, I believe, is the best choice as Speaker Romualdez’s replacement,” Barbers noted.
