Vice President Sara Duterte voiced support for efforts to replace House Speaker Martin Romualdez amid controversies surrounding his leadership, while stating she would not endorse any lawmaker for speakership, citing her focus on the responsibilities of her office.
“Dapat lang, dapat lang talaga dahil nakita ninyo naman ‘yung budget–2023, 2024, 2025. Malamang agawan na naman niyan ng budget sa 2026,” she said in an interview on Tuesday, Sept. 16.
“At lahat ‘yung mga past budgets natin, nakita natin nait was under the leadership of Speaker Martin Romualdez,” he added of her former ally and 2022 campaign manager.
Romualdez is reportedly being challenged by some lawmakers, most vocal of whom is Dasmariñas City Rep. Kiko Barzaga.
The Vice President, however, refused to back any lawmaker for the speakership, saying that she is far too busy at the Office of the Vice President (OVP) to keep the Congress in mind.
She recalled advising President Marcos—her former running mate and ally—to choose a speaker who was not involved in alleged “bribery.”
“Nakalagay sa isang kaso doon sa America. Klarong-klaro na doon nakita na involved siya sa racketeering at bribery,” Duterte said, referring to Romualdez.
“So, ikaw na presidente ka, ilagay mong ba ganyang klaseng, ganyang klaseng speaker. So, anong nangyari sa budget natin? Naraketeering din ‘yung budget natin,” she added.
Duterte also recalled informing Marcos about the corruption in the budget of the Department of Education (DepEd) when she was still its secretary, but the chief executive reportedly turned a blind eye to it. (Raymund Antonio)
