Thirty-nine lawmakers from the Visayas have issued a manifesto declaring their full support for Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III, making the bloc the latest major force in the House of Representatives to align with his reform-driven leadership.
Deputy Speaker Ferjenel Biron (4th District, Iloilo); Senior Deputy Majority Leader Lorenz Defensor (3rd District, Iloilo); and Reps. Alfredo Benitez (Lone District, Bacolod City) and Vincent Franco Frasco (5th District, Cebu) led the signatories of the manifesto of support for the Speaker.
The Visayan bloc’s declaration adds to the earlier support of 30 Metro Manila district representatives; 67 members of the Mindanao bloc led by Senior Deputy Speaker Ferdinand Hernandez (2nd District, South Cotabato); the 39-member Northern Luzon Alliance led by House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander Marcos III (1st District, Ilocos Norte) with Deputy Speakers Kristine Singson-Meehan (2nd District, Ilocos Sur) and Francisco Paolo Ortega V (1st District, La Union); and the 44 members of the Party-list Coalition Foundation Inc.
In their manifesto, the Visayan lawmakers said the House is at a moment that demands moral recovery, humility, and the courage to confront uncomfortable truths.
They said Dy’s leadership—marked by clean hands, independence from ongoing controversies, and an unwavering stance on accountability—provides the stability and integrity needed to rebuild public trust shaken by flood-control corruption scandals.
“Speaker Dy has no involvement, no stake, and no entanglement in the controversies that have shaken public confidence. His distance from these scandals is not merely a personal advantage—it is an institutional necessity. The House cannot hope to regain credibility if the person leading its reforms is compromised by the very wrongdoing we aim to confront,” they said.
The lawmakers said Dy has shown the moral clarity required to lead reforms in an institution that “must admit that mistakes were made, that systems were abused, and that the House must change if it hopes to serve the Filipino people with honor.”
“Speaker Dy has opened the doors to accountability. He has encouraged transparency. He has signaled that no one is above the process,” they said.
“These are not easy decisions. But they are the right ones—and the Visayan Bloc believes the House must stay on this path,” they added.
The Visayan bloc said it stands united “for moral recovery, for accountability, and for a House worthy of the trust of our people.”
“With full responsibility to our constituents and fidelity to our oath, we declare our support for Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ G. Dy III and the reforms he has set in motion. We believe that under his leadership, the House can restore its moral compass, reclaim its credibility, and return to its duty of serving the Filipino people with integrity,” they said.
Other signatories include Reps. Francisco Miraflores (2nd District, Aklan); Maria Vanessa Aumentado (2nd District, Bohol); Jesus Marquez (1st District, Aklan); JC Rahman Nava (Lone District, Guimaras); Anna Victoria Tuazon (3rd District, Zamboanga City); Julienne Baronda (Lone District, Iloilo City); Jayl Fernando Miguel Benitez (3rd District, Negros Occidental); Jane Castro (2nd District, Capiz); Patricia Calderon (7th District, Cebu); Kathryn Gorriceta (2nd District, Iloilo); Rachel Del Mar (1st District, Cebu City); Lyndon Villa (Lone District, Siquijor); and Emmanuel Iway (1st District, Negros Oriental).
They were joined by Reps. Emmarie Ouano-Dizon (Lone District, Mandaue City); Manuel Ko (Abang Lingkod Party-list); Edsel Galeos (2nd District, Cebu); Mercedes Alvarez (6th District, Negros Occidental); Roger Mercado (1st District, Southern Leyte); James Ang Jr. (Uswag Ilonggo Party-list); Lolita Karen Javier (2nd District, Leyte); Emilio Yulo (5th District, Negros Occidental); Sun Shimura (4th District, Cebu); Ma. Isabel Sagarbarria (2nd District, Negros Oriental); and Eduardo Rama Jr. (3rd District, Cebu).
Completing the list are Reps. Alfredo Marañon (2nd District, Negros Occidental); Carl Nicolas Cari (5th District, Leyte); Daphne Lagon (6th District, Cebu); Richard Gomez (4th District, Leyte); Howard Guintu (6th District, Negros Occidental); Gerardo Espina Jr. (Lone District, Biliran); Alexie Tutor (3rd District, Bohol); Junard Chan (Lone District, Lapu-Lapu City); Rhea Mae Gullas (1st District, Cebu); Antonio Legarda Jr. (Lone District, Antique); and Christopherson Yap (2nd District, Southern Leyte).
