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Speaker Romualdez quits amid flood control scandal, replaced by Rep. Dy

House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez — PHILIPPINE STAR/KRIZ JOHN ROSALES

By Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio, Reporter

SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez resigned on Wednesday amid mounting criticism of his alleged role in the Philippines’ multibillion-peso flood control scandal, triggering a leadership shakeup in the House of Representatives just a week after a similar change in the Senate.

Shortly after, 253 congressmen voted to replace him with Isabela Rep. Faustino “Bojie” Dy III.

“The issues surrounding certain infrastructure projects have raised questions that bring not only upon me, but upon this institution we all serve,” Mr. Romualdez, who was Speaker for three years, told the House floor. “The longer I stay, the heavier that burden grows on me, on the House, and on the President.”

The resignation of Mr. Romualdez, the President’s cousin, is the culmination of a broader congressional leadership shakeup that had been brewing since early September, and has already triggered a change in Senate leadership, with Senator Vicente “Tito” C. Sotto III replacing Francis G. Escudero amid a fallout from the flood control scandal.

Mr. Romualdez said he quit to let the House have a fresh start and begin efforts to regain public trust.

“The House needs this change,” Senior Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo Rep. Lorenz R. Defensor told reporters before the speakership vote. “It needs to rebuild its reputation and regain its integrity after what has happened to the anomalous budget on flood control projects.”

Reports of irregularities in infrastructure contracts have fueled public outrage after a series of typhoons and monsoon rains earlier this year left Metro Manila and nearby provinces flooded despite extensive flood control projects.

Mr. Dy vowed sweeping reforms in a politically charged speech after being elected, pledging to confront corruption but offered few specifics on his policy agenda.

“Under my leadership, this House will change,” he said. “I will not defend the guilty, and I will not shield the corrupt.”

Mr. Dy, 64, is a member of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s Partido Federal ng Pilipinas and returned to Congress after last serving as a congressman in the 2000s. He held provincial posts after, including a three-term stint as governor of Isabela, a northern province where his family maintains political influence.

The House will not spare “no rank, no ally and no office” in its pursuit of accountability against those involved in large-scale corruption, Mr. Dy said. “We must strengthen the oversight committee and fully cooperate with the independent commission on infrastructure.”

‘CONTINUITY’ MOVE
“The President recognizes the vital role of the House of Representatives, especially at a time when the public demands visible results and Congress is called upon to take active steps that address people’s concerns and deliver real improvements in daily life,” the presidential palace said in a statement.

“We respect the independence of the chamber and acknowledge the contributions of former Speaker Martin Romualdez,” it said. “We now look forward to working with Speaker Faustino Dy III to advance measures that strengthen the economy, ensure basic services, and protect our democracy.”

The Speaker post carries significant political clout and is traditionally held by an ally of the sitting President. It holds influence over the chamber, where tax measures and the annual national budget originate, and plays a key role in steering administration priorities through the House.

The change in the House leadership is seen as a “continuity” move for the Marcos administration and might be aimed at shielding the President’s allies from blowback following backlash over alleged ties to shady infrastructure deals, said Arjan P. Aguirre, who teaches political science at the Ateneo de Manila University.

“The leadership change might be an attempt by the Marcos bloc to preempt any potentially untoward consequences from the ongoing probe into the flood control mess,” he said by telephone.

Mr. Marcos last month said about P545 billion had been channeled to flood control projects since 2022, noting that 15 contractors bagged about P100 billion or 20% of the total funds.

The House and Senate have launched separate inquiries that have since implicated engineers, contractors and politicians in large-scale corruption.

Reports of the flood control anomalies have sparked pockets of protests across the Philippines, a country frequently hit by severe flooding.

“Romualdez’s resignation may calm the storm inside the House, but it’s unlikely to satisfy public outrage,” Cleve V. Arguelles, chief executive officer and president at Philippine think tank WR Numero Research, said in a Viber message.

“Unless deeper accountability follows and the key masterminds are prosecuted and put behind bars, the public will see this as another case of political elites sacrificing one of their own to protect the rest,” he added.

UK military pact may boost PHL stance in sea dispute

PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

By Chloe Mari A. Hufana, Reporter

THE PHILIPPINES said a potential defense pact with the UK would boost its campaign to enforce a United Nations-backed tribunal ruling against China in the South China Sea, underscoring Manila’s strategy of rallying international support as tensions with Beijing intensify.

Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. said London’s push for a status of visiting forces agreement reflects “full support” for international law and the 2016 arbitration award that voided China’s sweeping claims in the contested waters.

If talks proceed, the UK would be the second European country after France to pursue such a deal with Manila.

“That is the clearest expression that a country may have to support our position in the West Philippine Sea,” Mr. Teodoro told reporters, based on a video sent to a Viber chat group.

He added that the proposal is awaiting President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s approval, with negotiations expected to pave the way for joint training and maritime drills.

The move highlights Europe’s growing security role in the Indo-Pacific at a time when the Philippines is leaning on allies to counter China’s assertiveness. The Philippines has expanded drills with the US and Australia and is exploring new military partnerships amid repeated Chinese attempts to block its vessels in disputed waters.

On Tuesday, two Chinese Coast Guard ships fired water cannons at a Philippine government vessel near Scarborough Shoal, an area within Manila’s exclusive economic zone but under Chinese control since 2012.

Beijing accused the Philippine ship of “illegally invading” its territory, while Manila said the action was harassment. The clash followed Beijing’s declaration of a “national nature reserve” in the shoal, a move seen as another bid to cement its grip.

Josue Raphael J. Cortez, a diplomacy lecturer at De La Salle-College of St. Benilde, said a Philippine-UK visiting forces deal would enhance the Southeast Asian nation’s maritime defense by allowing Filipino troops to access British training and advanced weaponry.

“It is in its best interest to expand its ties with countries within our region, given that geoeconomic shifts are also closely tied with geopolitical dynamics,” he said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

For the UK, the agreement will complement partnerships with India and Australia and reflects its post-Brexit strategy of projecting influence in the Indo-Pacific region, he added.

Meanwhile, Mr. Marcos urged newly promoted generals and flag officers to strengthen the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ readiness across land, air and sea. Speaking at a Malacañang ceremony, he praised the military’s role in disaster relief and multinational drills and assured continued government support.

“Your loyalty remains with the Constitution and the Filipino people,” he said, citing the need to guard peace and build alliances for “a freer, more stable region.”

Tropical Depression Mirasol disrupts north, may intensify into storm

TROPICAL DEPRESSION MIRASOL — FACEBOOK.COM/PAGASA.DOST.GOV.PH.

TROPICAL Depression Mirasol swept across Northern Luzon on Wednesday after making landfall in Aurora, forcing storm signals across more than a dozen provinces and raising the risk of heavier rains and flooding in the coming days, the state weather bureau said.

The cyclone, with sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 90 kph, was last tracked over Kabugao, Apayao province, moving northwestward at 20 kph, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in a 5 p.m. bulletin.

Signal No. 1 warnings were hoisted over Batanes and Cagayan, the western and northern portions of Isabela, the northwestern portion of Quirino and the northern portion of Nueva Vizcaya.

It was also in effect in the provinces of Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, the northern portion of Benguet, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and the northern portion of La Union.

PAGASA warned that a minimal to minor threat to life and property was possible under this wind signal.

Mirasol was expected to move northwestward within the next 12 hours while traversing Northern Luzon and re-emerge over the Luzon Strait on Wednesday evening, PAGASA said.

It was expected to maintain its strength and could intensify into a tropical storm by Thursday evening or Friday morning, which could prompt higher wind signals, it added.

Malacañang said more than 2.5 million food packs and other relief items had been prepared by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Meanwhile, Science and Technology Secretary Renato U. Solidum, Jr. said the public should prepare for more typhoons and above-normal rainfall amid the possible development of La Niña by the last quarter.

“There will be projected La Niña by October, November, December, and continuing until February,” he told reporters late Tuesday. “It will be short-lived but… you expect more tropical cyclones, more rainfall. So we need to prepare for floods.”

PAGASA on Tuesday said there was a 70% chance of a La Niña onset as early as October. In its separate climate outlook, the agency said as many as 15 tropical cyclones could enter the Philippines in the next six months.

Meanwhile, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) urged the public to brace for extreme rainfall expected from the approaching La Niña season.

Families should stay updated through the HazardHunterPH app, on social media, or through local government announcements, and coordinate with village officials on evacuation plans.

Communities should also monitor the government’s Flood Susceptibility Map and remain alert to early warning signs such as rapid water level rise, muddy streams, or ground cracks that may indicate flash floods or landslides, it added. — Edg Adrian A. Eva and Andre Christopher H. Alampay

16,000 reports on Marcos anti-graft site

SUMBONGSAPANGULO.PH

THE PALACE on Wednesday said that more than 16,000 complaints have been filed through President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s online platform for questionable infrastructure projects, as the probe into alleged irregularities continues.

The 16,275 reports would be turned over to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), the body tasked to probe anomalous public works projects, Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro told a news briefing.

The sumbongsapangulo.ph platform, launched last month, is one of the Philippine government’s initiatives to crack down on graft.

Mr. Marcos rolled the ball against corruption in flood control projects during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July after a series of storms and monsoon rains devastated the country.

He has since issued bold pronouncements against corruption and created the commission that would investigate graft in Public Works projects. The country’s multibillion-peso flood control scandal has led to the resignation of the Public Works secretary and leadership changes in the Senate and House of Representatives due to fallout from the various investigations.

Mr. Marcos set up the ICI under Executive Order No. 94 to probe irregularities in flood control and other Public Works projects, giving it the authority to recommend criminal, civil or administrative charges.

The commission is expected to convene daily to settle organizational matters such as the formation of its secretariat, staffing requirements, officer designations and required documentation.

It will also decide whether its sessions will be conducted in public or behind closed doors.

The ICI met on Tuesday to prepare its organizational chart. It is also expected to name its secretariat members this week, the Palace earlier said.

It is headed by retired Supreme Court Justice Andres B. Reyes, Jr. Joining him as members are former Public Works Secretary Rogelio L. Singson and accountant Rossana A. Fajardo.

Malacañang appealed to the public to avoid submitting false reports on its website. The President has stressed that the audit of these projects would only be effective with active participation from citizens. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

BARMM poll preparations suspended

@BANGSAMOROGOVT

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc on Wednesday ordered the suspension of all preparations for the Bangsamoro parliamentary elections scheduled on Oct. 13, following a temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the Supreme Court (SC).

Comelec chair George Erwin M. Garcia said the poll body must comply with the TRO issued on Tuesday, which questioned the legality and constitutionality of Bangsamoro Autonomy Act (BAA) No. 77, which sought to redraw parliamentary districts in BARMM.

“The Comelec today, as the en banc, decided to suspend all preparations related to the conduct of the Oct. 13 Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections starting today. If we do not stop our preparations, we will be cited in contempt. What would be the purpose of a TRO if the Commission continued with the preparations?” Mr. Garcia said.

The suspension will remain in effect until the TRO is lifted or until the SC issues a final ruling on the case.

The law would have reallocated seven seats originally assigned to Sulu after the court ruled in 2024 that the province is not part of the region.

Petitioners questioned the measure’s constitutionality and argued that passing it after the election period had begun violated rules on electoral changes, raising concerns it could disrupt preparations and affect the credibility of the October 2025 polls. —

The tribunal has directed the Comelec, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, and other concerned parties to submit their comments by next week, with the outcome of the case expected to determine whether elections would proceed under the old districting scheme or with the new configuration.

“As of now, because of the suspension, the Comelec cannot answer whether elections will push through on Oct. 13. In this country, any resetting of elections, regardless of its nature, will always entail additional costs,” Mr. Garcia added

Meanwhile, Malacañang on Wednesday said it would comply with the SC’s temporary order to stop the redistricting in the BARMM despite President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s staunch support for the parliamentary elections.

“If that is the decision of the Supreme Court, we will respect it. Whatever the Supreme Court orders, the government will comply,” Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro told a news briefing in Filipino.

While acknowledging concerns that the court order could affect the upcoming regional elections, the Palace stressed that the administration would abide by the judiciary.

“Yes, there are worries, but the administration will still follow what the Supreme Court says,” she added. — Erika Mae P. Sinaking and Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Palace dismisses VP’s criticism

Vice President Sara Duterte arrives at the Department of Justice, May 9, 2025. — PHILIPPINE STAR/RYAN BALDEMOR

THE Presidential Palace dismissed Vice-President (VP) Sara Duterte-Carpio’s criticism of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s handling of irregular flood control projects, saying the chief executive is already taking action while insisting on due process.

Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro on Wednesday said Mr. Marcos does not believe in “shortcuts,” stressing that law enforcement agencies and the newly formed Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) are already investigating alleged corruption in infrastructure projects.

She also aimed at Ms. Duterte, pointing to her father, former President Rodrigo R. Duterte, who admitted in 2017 that corruption persisted during his term despite promises to stamp it out within six months.

“Let us ask: Does the Vice-President have moral ascendancy when it comes to the issue of corruption?” Ms. Castro said during a press briefing in Filipino.

The clash underscores a broader political showdown between the country’s two most powerful families, once election allies, now increasingly at odds. 

While both accused the other of tolerating corruption, the two camps come from political dynasties long dogged by graft allegations: the Marcos family over ill-gotten wealth amassed during the former President Ferdinand E. Marcos, Sr.’s 21-year rule and the Dutertes over failure to curb corruption in their own six years in power.

“The President believes in due process, not shortcuts,” Ms. Castro said, adding that the ICI was created to ensure accountability through proper investigation rather than “extrajudicial style” measures, reminiscent of Ms. Duterte’s father’s infamous bloody drug war.

In July, Mr. Marcos launched a sweeping anti-graft reform as several storms and monsoon rains devastated the country, exposing its outdated flood mitigation systems.

As investigations continue, some lawmakers and public works officials have been implicated in the corruption scheme. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Law for public school teachers inked

PHILIPPINE STAR/ EDD GUMBAN

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. signed a measure expanding prospects for career paths in teaching and school administration into law.

The new law, Republic Act No. 12288 signed on Sept. 12, establishes a Career Progression System for public school teachers and leaders to support their professional growth and advancement.

It directs the Department of Budget and Management to create new teaching positions, including Teacher IV to VII, Master Teacher V and VI, and School Principal V.

The Department of Education is tasked with setting clear guidelines for promotions, which will be non-hierarchical and anchored on merit, competence, and professional standards.

Meanwhile, the President also signed Republic Act No. 12287, the Declaration of State of Imminent Disaster Act, to strengthen the country’s preparedness against natural and human-induced calamities.

Signed on Sept. 12, the law empowers the Philippine President to declare a “State of Imminent Disaster” using scientific evidence as a basis.

Mayors may also declare a state of imminent disaster through an executive order in their respective jurisdictions that are forecasted to be affected by an imminent disaster. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

LTFRB assures no disruption in three-day transport strike

COMMUTERS crowd a portion of the Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City as they wait for available passenger jeepneys and buses on Wednesday, the first day of the three-day transport strike of Manibela. — PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) assured that the three-day strike of various transportation groups, which started on Wednesday, will not disrupt commuter mobility.

In a statement, LTFRB Chairman Teofilo E. Guadiz III said that government agencies are fully prepared to mitigate any inconvenience of the three-day transport strike to the public.

“We recognize the right of transport groups to express their grievances. However, I want to assure our commuters that the LTFRB, in coordination with the Department of Transportation (DoTr), MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority), and concerned local government units, has prepared contingency measures to ensure that the riding public will not be stranded,” Mr. Guadiz said.

The Transportation department said that it will offer free rides on several routes to ensure that the public will not be affected by the transport strike.

The agency said that buses and trucks were also on standby to assist stranded commuters.

Transport groups Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston) and Samahang Manibela Mananakay at Nagkaisang Terminal ng Transportasyon (Manibela) are holding a three-day nationwide strike to protest fuel excise taxes. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

UAE to support PHL digitalization push with technical assistance — DBM

THE United Arab Emirates (UAE) will provide technical assistance to the Philippines to support its digitalization efforts and improve government efficiency, Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said on Wednesday.

Speaking at the official launch of the Government Experience Exchange forum between the Philippines and the UAE in Makati City, she told reporters that the UAE will share best practices in governance and digital transformation.

“It’s more on technical assistance in terms of digitalization efforts, like governance practices. You know sa kanila yung cost of doing business halos wala, (the cost of doing business is almost nothing)” Ms. Pangandaman said.

UAE Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Experience Exchange Abdulla Nasser Lootah said the event will focus on the future of the two countries, particularly on competitiveness, artificial intelligence and the “future foresight,” and excellence.

In a separate statement, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said the government has proposed a P67.9-billion allocation for the Judiciary under the 2026 National Expenditure Program to strengthen the justice system.

“A total of P67.9 billion is allocated for the Judiciary and P43.6 billion for the Department of Justice (DoJ) as we work towards building a fair, efficient, accessible and improved justice system,” President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. said in his Budget Message.

Of the Judiciary’s proposed budget, P32.4 billion will go to the Supreme Court and lower courts, P1.6 billion to the Court of Appeals, P710 million to the Sandiganbayan, P306 million to the Court of Tax Appeals.

“We support President Bongbong Marcos’ objectives of strengthening our Judiciary system. And so, for next year, we will ensure to provide adequate and sustained funding for programs that aim to protect our citizens’ rights and allow the timely delivery of justice,” Ms. Pangandaman said. — Aubrey Rose Inosante

More private sector involvement in agri urged

A farmer plows a small rice field in Quezon City, Feb. 18, 2025. — PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

A SENATOR on Wednesday called on the government to improve private sector support towards the country’s farmers and fisherfolk.

In a statement, Senator Francis Pancratius “Kiko” N. Pangilinan, who heads the Senate’s Committee on Agriculture, said that more private sector participation could improve the livelihood of farmers and fisherfolk.

“That will be good moving forward, so we will strengthen our synergy with the private sector. In the end, the private sector has the deepest pocket, not really the government,” Mr. Pangilinan said after a meeting with the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries.

The Senator said that government supported crops like rice, coconut, and sugar were in “poor status” compared to high value produce like pineapple, mangoes, and banana.

“Because the private sector has the deepest pocket, then you will really see investments in agriculture,” he said.

He added that while government support remains crucial, “meaningful progress can only be achieved with the business community being co-champions of the country’s food producers.” — Adrian H. Halili

DoST seeks more Doppler radars for weather monitoring

PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

THE DEPARTMENT of Science and Technology (DoST) on Wednesday said that it is looking to procure more Doppler radar systems, enabling better monitoring during storms or weather disturbances.

“Initially, we discussed 20 or 21 (Doppler radar systems), we are nearing that ideal number, some of those for redundancy purposes,” Science and Technology Secretary Renato J. Solidum, Jr. told a budget hearing on Wednesday.

Under the 2026 National Expenditure Plan, the DoST was allocated P450 million to procure new Doppler radar systems or repair existing ones.

Mr. Solidum added that the proposed budget would be used to replace obsolete or repair dilapidated monitoring systems.

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Administrator Nathaniel T. Servando said that the agency is expecting to complete two more radar systems by the end of next year.

“The four that are funded this year, will hopefully be operational by 2027,” Mr. Servando told senators.

He added that the country currently has 11 active Doppler radar systems, as some of them are currently in repair or are obsolete.

Meanwhile, the DoST and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) expressed support for a measure promoting the use of blockchain technology in the national budget. “Of course, we support that. It’s one of the anti-corruption initiatives we want to pursue,” DICT Secretary Henry Rhoel R. Aguda told reporters in Filipino during the Global Innovation Index press conference on Tuesday.

Mr. Aguda was referring to Senate Bill No. 1330, filed by Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV in early September, as well as House Bill No. 4489, filed by Rep. Brian Poe Llamanzares, both of which seek to institutionalize blockchain technology in the national budget process.

“Blockchain is a very good solution so that everything in the NEP (National Expenditure Program) and in the budget can be placed in an immutable chain,” he said.

Mr. Solidum said the measure will allow government transactions to be more transparent and secure.   

“It will be very good for logistics and any reporting systems… and DoST can actually conduct research on the possible use cases of blockchain,” Mr. Solidum told reporters during the press conference.

If Senate Bill No. 1330 is enacted into law, the DICT, in coordination with the Department of Budget and Management and the Commission on Audit, will establish a blockchain-based budget system where all records of the national budget are stored as digital public assets.

The DICT secretary said they are prepared to provide technical assistance and manage the required infrastructure upon the conclusion of the bill’s deliberations in both chambers of Congress. — Adrian H. Halili and Edg Adrian A. Eva

Gabriela joins 20th congress

PHILIPPINE STAR/MICHAEL VARCAS

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday formally proclaimed Gabriela Women’s Party as among the successful party-list groups in the 2025 national and local elections.

Sitting as the National Board of Canvassers, the Comelec en banc proclaimed Gabriela’s first nominee and former Kabataan representative Sarah Jane I. Elago, who will assume the group’s seat as the 64th member of the 20th congress.

In an interview, Ms. Elago vowed to continue Gabriela’s progressive legislative agenda, which focuses on the welfare and rights of women, children, and the LGBTQ+ community.

She also cited their push for the P1,200 national living wage, along with measures to lower the prices of basic goods and services.

“We are entering [Congress] in a time when the corrupt, the crocodiles, and the abusive are in disarray. With Gabriela Women’s Party proclaimed, the corrupt should be worried,” Ms. Elago said in Filipino.

She also challenges the government to abolish pork barrel funds and end the system of congressional insertions “because these are what politicians fight over, and it is the people who suffer when billions go to waste.”

Comelec Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia earlier announced that Gabriela secured its position following a resolution that increased the number of party-list seats from 63 to 64 to meet the constitutional mandate that 20% of the House be reserved for party-list representatives.

Its position was reinforced after the poll body dismissed challenges from other top-vote party-lists, including Duterte Youth, whose appeals to overturn accreditation rulings were rejected.

Gabriela ranked 55th among party-list contenders in this year’s midterm elections, receiving a total of 256,811 votes. — Erika Mae P. Sinaking

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