The highly charged political climate in the Philippines will surely gain more kick as the 20th Congress opens on Monday, July 28, during which the new House of Representatives and the new Senate will elect their respective officials.
In the House, Speaker Martin Romualdez, the congressman from the first district of Leyte and arguably the favorite cousin of President Bongbong Marcos, is expected to retain his post, if the manifesto of support signed by members of his cabal is any indication.
Three representatives, however, are rumored to run against Martin Romualdez for the speakership of the House. They are Bacolod Rep. Albee Benitez, Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco and Cebu 5th district Rep. Vincent Franco Frasco.
While Martin boasts of numerous accomplishments in the 19th Congress, the masses only remember two—first is the highly anomalous and possibly irregular passage of the 2025 national budget which was rent with various red flags of corruption in the form of cash “ayuda,” flawed flood control projects, and overpriced infrastructure projects in all districts.
Second, of course, is the still unresolved impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, a concrete result of the Torquemada-style inquisition by the notorious Quadcomm of Barbers, Fernandez, Abante, Acop, Padiano, etc.
It is also relevant to inquire into the Leyteño congressman’s projects and programs in his own district.
Residents of his own hometown of Tolosa say Martin Romualdez did not do anything substantial in the province’s first district during the last three years.
Of course, there was the poster showcase of official negligence —the San Juanico Bridge which links the islands of Samar and Leyte, which had to be closed because of sheer deterioration and Congress’ inability to provide the needed funds for the upkeep of this legacy from the First Marcos administration.
Because Tolosa is the hometown of the Romualdezes — Daniel, Imelda, Kokoy, and Martin — people there expect some semblance of economic progress that the town should have achieved through the decades.
But through the years, Tolosa’s small public market is the cleanest in all of Leyte—because there are few buyers and fewer sellers.
Economic activity in Tolosa is so low that it does not have a bank branch operating in the town. (This info was supplied by a long-time and native resident of Tolosa.) Not even a Landbank Easy Access Facility (LEAF).
Martin Romualdez is all glib and bombast when he said the last Congress “has set a new standard for productivity and purpose. Our collective achievements reflect our deep sense of duty to the Filipino people, ensuring that every measure we craft, debate, and pass uplifts lives, strengthens communities, and builds a resilient nation.”
We wish to see the day when our representatives will have the personal integrity and patriotism needed in casting their votes in parliament, beginning with the election of speaker, deputy speakers and other key positions in the House leadership.
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