Camille Naredo

Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez reelected as the Speaker of the House of Representatives during the opening of the first regular session of the 20th  Congress on July 28, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

House of Representatives

Marilyn Cahatol

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1753684275248viber_image_2025-07-28_14-23-05-337.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez reelected as the Speaker of the House of Representatives during the opening of the first regular session of the 20th  Congress on July 28, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez reelected as the Speaker of the House of Representatives during the opening of the first regular session of the 20th  Congress on July 28, 2025. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) — Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez continues as the Speaker of the House of Representatives for the 20th Congress after a majority of lawmakers chose him in a vote Monday.</p><p>Romualdez, nominated by Quezon 2nd District Rep. Jay-jay Suarez, was uncontested, favored by 269 House representatives, with 34 others abstaining.</p><p>&quot;It is in moments like these that leadership matters most. It is in that spirit that I rise today to nominate a man whose leadership has been tested, proven, and deeply felt across this chamber and beyond,&quot; said Suarez. </p><p>&quot;In the 19th Congress, Speaker Romualdez steered this institution with both resolve and wisdom. Under his stewardship, the House of Representatives became a true House of the people, responsive to the needs of the nation, attuned to the voice of the common Filipino, and anchored to the values of unity, service and progress,&quot; he added.</p><p>Romualdez&#x27;s nomination was seconded by Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Sandro Marcos III, Wilfredo Quezon 1st District Rep. Wilfredo Mark Enverga, Antipolo 1st District Rep. Ronaldo Puno, Misamis Oriental 2nd District Rep. Yevgeny Emano and TUCP Party-list Rep. Raymond Mendoza. </p><p>In nominating Romualdez, Suarez cited the need for a leadership that has been &quot;tested&quot; amid &quot;uncertain&quot; times. He also noted that under Romualdez&#x27;s leadership, the 19th Congress became &quot;responsive to the needs of the country, championing landmark reforms&quot;.</p><p>&quot;The 19th Congress, under his watch, delivered one of the most productive and purposeful legislative terms in recent memory. We passed priority measures that advanced the goals of Bagong Pilipinas, empowered communities, and created pathways for inclusive and sustainable growth. But more than numbers or laws, he gave us direction — and he gave the public something more important than power: trust,&quot; said Suarez.</p><p>Even before the 20th Congress opened today, Romualdez had already <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/26/-287-of-317-members-of-20th-congress-support-romualdez-as-house-speaker-2245">secured the support of House &quot;supermajority,&quot;</a> who signed a manifesto expressing desire for him to retain Speakership, House Assistant Majority Leader Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong earlier said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/24/291-congressmen-back-romualdez-for-20th-congress-house-speakership-garin-1912">291 congressmen back Romualdez for 20th Congress House Speakership: Garin</a></div><p>Romualdez is the president of his party Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD). </p><p>He served as the majority leader in the 18th Congress and first won the House speakership in the 19th Congress. </p><p>He sat as Leyte&#x27;s 1st District Representative from 2007 to 2016, and 2019 up to present. </p><p>Romualdez, a known ally of his cousin President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., led the House when it <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/5/house-impeaches-vp-sara-duterte-1551">impeached Vice President Sara Duterte</a> in February.</p><p>Among those who abstained are Akbayan Party List Rep. Chel Diokno, ML Party List Leila De Lima, Bacolod City 1st District Representative Alfredo Benitez, Cebu 5th District Representative Duke Frasco, and 19th Congress House Minority Leader, 4Ps Party List Representative Marcelino Libanan.</p><p>Navotas City Representative Toby Tiangco and Davao City 3rd District Representative Isidro Ungab also abstained, but manifested that they will not join the House Minority, and will instead be &quot;independent&quot;.</p><p>Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte, meanwhile, said he walked out of the House session after the roll call, and neither voted for the Speaker nor joined the House Minority, because he refuses &quot;to take part in a political circus that has long forgotten who it is supposed to serve — the Filipino people.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/28/paolo-duterte-3-davaoe-o-lawmakers-form-house-independent-bloc-1153">Paolo Duterte snubs Speakership election, forms House &#x27;independent bloc&#x27; with 3 Davaoeño lawmakers</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>NEW HOUSE LEADERSHIP</strong></div><p>Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Sandro Marcos, son of President Marcos Jr., was elected House Majority Leader for the 20th Congress.</p><p>Meanwhile, Suarez won the Senior Deputy Speaker post, while the deputy speakers are Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Garin, Lanao del Sur 2nd District Rep.Yasser Alonto Balintong, La Union 1st District Rep. Francisco Paulo Ortega V, Zambales 1st District Rep. Jefferson Khonghun, Ilocos Sur 2nd District Rep. Kristine Singson-Meehan, Antipolo 1st District Rep. Ronaldo Puno, Isabela 3rd District Rep. Bojie Dy III, Iloilo 4th District Rep. Ferjenel Biron and TUCP Party-list Rep. Raymond Mendoza.</p><p>The new House leadership comes as Marcos Jr. delivers his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) 4 p.m. today at Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/27/big-task-ahead-for-marcos-as-he-enters-crucial-second-half-of-term-2309">SONA 2025: Big task ahead for Marcos Jr. as he enters crucial second half of presidency</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PlkygPYixh8?si=rXQjJi8-y9DHn4m9" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez continues as the Speaker of the House of Representatives for the 20th Congress.</p>

Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez continues as the Speaker of the House of Representatives for the 20th Congress.

Romualdez remains House Speaker for 20th Congress

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Romualdez remains House Speaker for 20th Congress

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 28, 2025 12:35 PM PHT

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Updated July 28, 2025 02:31 PM PHT

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House Speaker

20th Congress

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