Speaker Romualdez designated caretaker of Palawan’s 1st District

House Speaker Martin Romualdez (Photo from House of Representatives)

MANILA, Philippines — House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has been designated as caretaker of Palawan’s first Congressional district following the death of Rep. Edgardo Salvame.

During the session on Wednesday, Deputy Majority Leader and Isabela 6th District Rep. Inno Dy made the motion assigning the Speaker as legislative caretaker of said district.

“Mr. Speaker, in the interest of the people of the first district of Palawan, I move to designate Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez as the legislative caretaker of the first district of Palawan.  So moved, Mr. Speaker,”  Dy said.

Deputy Speaker Raymond Democrito Mendoza approved the motion after nobody objected to the motion.

Salvame’s relatives on March 13 announced that the lawmaker passed away.  Sources who requested anonymity told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that Salvame died in Singapore while recovering from a medical operation recently done on his spine.

Salvame was serving his first term as representative of Palawan’s first district.  He authored at least 71 bills, most of which are related to tourism and have been approved in the lower chamber and pending before the Senate.

Just this January, Salvame was involved in calls to investigate Palawan’s power woes. 

Romualdez said that he, Salvame, and Palawan 2nd District Rep. Jose Alvarez had filed House Resolution No. 1544, asking the House Committee on Energy to probe issues surrounding the Palawan Electric Cooperative (Paleco).

Romualdez is now caretaker of five legislative districts — Cavite’s 7th District which was vacated by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla; Negros Oriental’s 3rd District after former lawmaker Arnie Teves was dropped from the roll; Palawan’s 3rd District after the death of Rep. Edward Hagedorn; and Batangas 6th District after the appointment Finance Secretary Ralph Recto.