By Junex Doronio

WITHOUT MENTIONING THE NAME of former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Speaker Martin Romualdez has disputed the allegation that the House of Representatives “enjoy unlimited pork barrel” which only came out after the lower chamber thrashed the P650-million confidential funds for 2024 for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd).

On Saturday, Nov. 4, Romualdez stressed that the House of Representatives has “categorically abolished the pork barrel system”.

“Honoring the Supreme Court’s (SC) directive, we have instituted reforms to categorically abolish the pork barrel system. Our commitment to upholding transparency, accountability, and exemplary governance remains stronger than ever,” Romualdez said.

On Saturday, the House of Representatives also submitted the P5.768-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) to the Senate.

“We have undertaken rigorous measures to ensure judicious and lawful allocation of funds. Our reforms echo our unwavering commitment to serving our people with utmost integrity,” said Romualdez, who represents Leyte’s 1st district.

Many Visayans are now rooting for MR, as Romualdez supporters call the Speaker, to run for president in 2028.

They said they would like to see another Visayan — and this time, a Waray — to become the country’s Chief Executive after Sergio Osmeña Sr. of Cebu, Manuel Acuña Roxas of Capiz, and Carlos Polistico Garcia of Bohol.

(ai/mnm)

By Junex Doronio

IN AN UNEXPECTED DEVELOPMENT, former President and incumbent House Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Thursday congratulated Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on his high trust rating.

“I would like to congratulate House Speaker and Lakas President Martin Romualdez on the recent OCTA Research Report reflecting a +6% increase in Trust Rating to 60%,” the former president said in a statement.

According to the third quarter survey of OCTA Research conducted from September 30 to October 4, Romualdez garnered a 60% trust rating and 61% performance rating.

Both the Speaker’s trust and performance ratings increased by 6% compared to the survey conducted in July.

Arroyo’s congratulatory remarks on MR caught many by surprise as the former president is widely known to be the political mentor of Inday Sara, monicker of Vice President Sara Duterte.

The younger Duterte was instrumental in installing FPGMA as Speaker of the House of Representatives in 2018 after ousting Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez of Davao del Norte’s 1st district.

MR — as Romualdez supporters call him — is expected to run for president in 2028 in his bid to succeed his cousin President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

MR and Inday Sara are the main protagonists in the 2028 presidential race.

(ai/mnm)