Sen. Bato dela Rosa Speaks on Change of Leadership in House of Representatives
BATO DELA ROSA – The Senator confirmed that he personally knows newly-elected House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy.
The change of leadership in the House of Representatives gathered different reactions from the Filipino people as well as some officials in the government. Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez resigned from being the House Speaker and was replaced by Isabela Rep. Faustino “Bojie” Dy.
Dy hails from a political clan in Isabela. Many of his family members hold government positions in the province. According to Antipolo Rep. Ronaldo Puno, Romualdez called for a meeting to inform the House leaders of his decision to step down from his position. He also asked for their support for Dy to replace him in the position.
The resignation of Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez from being the House Speaker came amid the flood control corruption accusations against him. His name was one of those mentioned by the Discayas during a Senate flood probe.
During the Senate hearing, the controversial contractors brought with them a joint affidavit that contained the names of the officials of the government and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) who allegedly receive kickback from the flood control projects.
According to the Discayas, then-House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co allegedly get a 30% kickback from the government flood control deals. The House Speaker, a cousin of Pres. Bongbong Marcos, immediately denied the corruption accusation against him saying he is “self-made”.
Prior to the change of leadership in the House of Representatives, the Senate also had a shakeup. From the lead of Sen. Chiz Escudero, the upper chamber is now under the lead of Senate Pres. Tito Sotto. Several members of the Duterte bloc including Sen. Bato dela Rosa who were previously part of the Majority bloc are now part of the Minority bloc.
Recently, amid the resignation of Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez as House Speaker, Sen. Bato dela Rosa was asked about his two cents on the issue. Based on a post of GMA News, the former Philippine National Police asked if Romualdez’s resignation is a sign of guilt over the flood control corruption accusations against him.
“Bakit siya nag-resign? Sign of guilt ba ‘yun? About the accusation, about sa problema natin sa flood control. I don’t know kung bakit siya nag-resign,” Dela Rosa said.
Sen. Bato dela Rosa was also asked about newly-elected House Speaker Bojie Dy. During the interview, the Senator said that the impact of the House’s change of leadership on the upper and lower chambers remain to be seen but he described Dy as a kind person.
“I know him. Mabait naman na tao ‘yan. Tinulungan ako niyan, nung tumakbo ako 2019, tinulungan ako,” the Senator said on the new House Speaker during the interview.
However, amid the change of leadership in the lower chamber, Davao 1st District Cong. Paolo Duterte claimed that Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez being replaced with House Speaker Bojie Dy is allegedly “just another cover-up move”.