Particulars of the most recent ouster try in opposition to Romualdez are scarce, seeping solely by means of cracks, although latest photograph ops counsel he has managed to comprise the discontent for now
Speak to Speaker Martin Romualdez’s trusted aides and you’ll sense an effort to downplay or dismiss rumors of a brand new ouster plot.
The speculations stood on shaky floor — individuals talked in regards to the alleged coup in non-public, however solely few have been prepared to return ahead. However as they are saying, the place’s there’s smoke, there’s hearth.
Is that each one previously now, although? Newest photograph ops counsel that the Home’s energy gamers are able to renew their assist for the Speaker.
Does that imply Romualdez has survived the most recent menace to his speakership, or is that this simply one other calm earlier than the storm?
The primary main signal of a stormy sea manifested in Govt Secretary Lucas Bersamin’s uncommon rebuke of Congress. Over the weekend, the Little President issued a press release basically accusing the Home of corruption.
“Clear your Home first!” Bersamin stated on Saturday, September 6.
Bersamin and the Cupboard appeared to have taken offense over the Home’s pronouncements criticizing the 2026 Nationwide Expenditure Program — often known as the President’s nationwide price range proposal. Days earlier than Bersamin’s assertion, occasion leaders fronted by Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno of the Nationwide Unity Celebration referred to as the NEP “mangled,” one full of misguided entries in funding requests of quite a few businesses, together with the scandal-plagued Division of Public Works and Highways.
It’s logical to imagine that Bersamin wouldn’t concern such a press release with out the blessings of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. It’s also logical to imagine that occasion leaders wouldn’t maintain a Home-sanctioned press convention with out the blessings of the Speaker.
Taken collectively, these two realities — plus the truth that Romualdez was not a part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s entourage throughout his go to to Cambodia, not like his earlier overseas journeys — fueled speculations that the 2 cousins are usually not in the most effective of phrases.
Ouster plot
Particulars of the trouble to unseat the Speaker are scarce, however there have been a number of statements indicating that one thing had been occurring behind the scenes.
Navotas Consultant Toby Tiangco, a distant relative of Romualdez, instructed ANC that his colleagues had been reaching out to him since final week to inquire if they’d the numbers to put in a brand new speaker.
Tiangco is a part of a trio of impartial lawmakers who overtly refused to again the speakership of Romualdez as a consequence of controversies hounding the 2025 nationwide price range handed by Congress. The opposite two are Bacolod Metropolis Consultant Albee Benitez and Cebu fifth District Consultant Duke Frasco.
“They’re discovering a method to not set up Consultant Albee and as a substitute put somebody whom I heard Martin will give technique to — somebody’s he’s comfy with,” he stated.
Cavite 4th District Consultant Kiko Barzaga is one other congressman whom Tiangco’s bloc may recruit. The freshman lawmaker, who has resigned from the Nationwide Unity Celebration, claimed that he had been accused of making an attempt to assemble signatures to take away Romualdez from the speakership.
“That notion is fake,” Barzaga stated in a press release.
“Now that I’m free from my occasion’s constraints, I counsel that he should be investigated for any anomalies involving flood management public funds,” he added.
Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega additionally admitted listening to second-hand accounts a couple of signature drive amongst congressmen to put in a brand new speaker.
“Some persons are calling different members, however they don’t determine themselves,” he stated, including that nobody had reached out to him. “It’s simply speak amongst some members, nothing concrete.”
Former Surigao del Norte 2nd District Consultant Ace Barbers, who has been appointed by the Speaker as his spokesman, additionally brushed apart the rumors.
“He has no plans to resign, there are not any plans of a elimination, and there are not any plans to vary leaders within the Decrease Home,” he stated.
Kumbaya once more?
Not like within the Senate the place chatter a couple of coup truly resulted within the downfall of their chief — not too long ago eliminated Senate president Chiz Escudero — Romualdez should have some methods up his sleeve to retain the speakership.
Was he capable of finding a technique to tame Bersamin? The combative govt secretary abruptly modified tune when he appeared earlier than the appropriations panel on September 8 to defend the Workplace of the President’s price range.
He stated there was no try on his finish to malign lawmakers — by no means thoughts that he referred to as them corrupt simply days in the past.
“We don’t intend that to rile up pressure between our departments,” he instructed lawmakers.
Bersamin held a closed-door assembly with Romualdez, Majority Chief and the President’s son Sandro Marcos, and different Home officers after Monday’s price range deliberations.
And on Thursday, September 10, occasion leaders from key energy blocs within the chamber — Lakas CMD, Partido Federal, Nationwide Unity Celebration, Nationalist Folks’s Coalition, Nacionalista Celebration, and Celebration-Checklist Basis — met with the Speaker.
The general public end-product in each conferences was a photograph op — all attendees smiling, together with the Speaker.
In a chamber that has been witness to the rise and fall of politicians, is Romualdez’s smile destined to fade too?
– Rappler.com
