Nelson Morales

Rep. Momo says he resigned from budget bicam to 'preserve integrity' of discussions

Article (news)

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765784386013Surigao del Sur 1st District Rep. Romeo Momo Sr 12152025.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Surigao del Sur 1st District Rep. Romeo Momo Sr. Courtesy of congress.gov.ph/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Surigao del Sur 1st District Rep. Romeo Momo Sr. Courtesy of congress.gov.ph/File</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Surigao del Sur 1st District Rep. Romeo Momo Sr. on Monday said that he resigned from the bicameral conference committee (bicam) deliberating on the proposed 2026 budget to “preserve the integrity” of its discussions.</p><p>Momo left the bicam after plunder and graft complaints were filed against him before the Office of the Ombudsman on Friday.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/13/lawmaker-facing-plunder-graft-complaints-resigns-from-2026-budget-bicam-committee-1652">Lawmaker facing plunder, graft complaints resigns from 2026 budget bicam committee</a></div><p>He asserted that his decision was “out of <em>delicadeza</em>” and in no way an indication of guilt. </p><p>“I resigned because of <em>delicadeza</em>, number one. Pangalawa… I want to insulate or isolate the bicam from political insinuations,” he said.</p><p>“If I will stay there, baka ma-drag ko pa, ‘di ba? &#x27;Bakit mayroong isang member doon na may mga finile na kaso?&#x27; But remember, I resigned as member of the bicam, not because I&#x27;m guilty... I want to preserve the integrity of the result of the bicam discussion,” the lawmaker added.</p><p>Momo, however, has no plans of resigning from his position as chairperson of the House Committee on Public Works and Highways.</p><p>“I will not resign. Unless, of course, the leadership so decides. But I think I can help Congress in my capacity as chairman of the committee. Dahil sa matagal ako sa Department of Public Works and I know the workings of the DPWH. So, I&#x27;m pretty sure I can help the lower house,” he said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/15/dpwh-urges-bicam-to-restore-p45b-budget-cut-across-10-000-projects-1023">DPWH urges bicam to restore P45B budget cut across 10,000 projects</a></div><p>The complaints before the Ombudsman accused Momo of supposed links to a firm involved in P1.4 billion worth of government projects. He has denied the allegation, stressing that he divested from Surigao La Suerte Corp. before he assumed his post as congressman.</p><p>“Mayroong na-kontrata ‘yung pamilya ko, pero that was the company was created right after I retired from the Department of Public Works and Highways. I retired in the Department of Public Works and Highways in 2017, and then right after that, nag-establish sila ng corporation, and I was even one of the member of the corporation before... When I was elected, I divested all my interest,” Momo said.</p><p>“Hindi ako nakikialam doon. I don&#x27;t even know na mayroon silang kontrata eh… To be honest, ngayon ko lang nalalaman na mayroon silang mga contract. Because the contracts are not in my district,” he added.</p><p>Momo said the complaint was “baseless” and a mere “political vendetta.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1S3fkcDfy4o?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Surigao del Sur 1st District Rep. Romeo Momo Sr. on Monday said that he resigned from the bicameral conference committee deliberating on the proposed 2026 budget to “preserve the integrity” of its discussions.</p>

Surigao del Sur 1st District Rep. Romeo Momo Sr. on Monday said that he resigned from the bicameral conference committee deliberating on the proposed 2026 budget to “preserve the integrity” of its discussions.