MANILA, Philippines — It’s official: the House of Representatives has a new leader. Rep. Faustino “Bojie” Dy III of Isabela’s 6th District on Wednesday, September 17, was elected Speaker of the 20th Congress with an overwhelming 253 votes — a show of force that reflected both his allies’ strength and the collapse of Martin Romualdez’s hold on power.
Deputy Speaker Kristine Singson-Meehan announced Dy’s victory after lawmakers cast their votes one by one. Only 28 abstained, while four opted not to participate.
The fall of Romualdez
The transition was triggered by Romualdez’s dramatic resignation on the House floor, a move met with applause and a standing ovation. Once one of the most powerful figures in Congress, the Leyte congressman stepped down under pressure from corruption allegations tied to anomalous flood control projects and questionable budget insertions.
With the speakership vacant, Majority Leader Sandro Marcos immediately called for nominations. Dy’s candidacy — put forward by Quezon City Rep. Ralph Wendel Tulfo and seconded by fellow Isabela lawmaker Tonypet Albano — went unchallenged, signaling the extent of consensus that had formed behind him.
Romualdez himself had already endorsed Dy in a private meeting with party leaders the day before. But Sandro Marcos was quick to stress that Dy’s win was not Malacañang’s doing: “It wasn’t about being chosen by the Palace — it was about numbers. Dy’s name came up the most.”
From critics to converts
Perhaps the most striking development was the shift among Romualdez’s former critics. Cebu Rep. Duke Frasco, Bacolod Rep. Albee Benitez, and Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco — who once positioned themselves as challengers — all threw their support behind Dy, formally rejoining the majority.
Others, like Cavite Rep. Kiko Barzaga, chose to abstain. Party-list blocs Akbayan, Makabayan, Mamamayang Liberal, and Minority Leader Nonoy Libanan also abstained to maintain their independence.
Dy stakes his claim
In his first speech as Speaker, Dy admitted the challenges of the post and the personal risks to his reputation. But he drew a hard line against corruption:
“I will not defend the guilty. I will not shield the corrupt,” he said, pledging to cooperate with the executive’s probe into anomalous projects.
He warned lawmakers against exploiting the House for personal gain, promising that those tagged in kickback and budget insertion controversies would face “the proper forum” to defend themselves.
Who is Bojie Dy?
Dy, a returning lawmaker, previously served as one of the House’s deputy speakers. Before that, he was Isabela vice governor from 2019 to 2025. In the 2025 midterm elections, he reclaimed his seat from his son, now Echague Mayor Inno Dy V, under the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), the party of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
With Dy at the helm, the House begins another chapter — one that promises reform, but remains shadowed by the same old power plays that dominate Philippine politics.
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