‘Romualdez will still be the speaker,’ says Gomez

Leyte 4th District Rep. Richard Gomez —Photo from Richard Gomez’s Facebook page

TACLOBAN CITY — Leyte 4th District Rep. Richard Gomez predicts that Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez of 1st district will retain his post as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

He said Romualdez continues to enjoy broad support among lawmakers.

“I think Speaker Romualdez will still be the speaker. He did well, especially for the [Eastern Visayas] region, here in Leyte,” Gomez said in an interview on June 22.

Romualdez, a cousin of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., is reportedly backed by the House’s ‘supermajority’ coalition.

Among the names being floated as alternative contenders or those who are reportedly being encouraged to seek the speakership are Rep. Alfredo “Albee” Benitez of Bacolod City and Rep. Paolo Duterte, brother of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Gomez, who did not sign the impeachment complaint against the vice president, said his political party, the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, has already thrown its support behind Romualdez.

“It’s good for Leyte and the entire region if he stays as speaker,” Gomez reiterated.

As for committee assignments in the upcoming 20th Congress, the legislator said the decision lies with House leadership.

During the 19th Congress, he served as vice chair of four committees, including the panels on Dangerous Drugs, and Youth and Sports Development.

“It’s up to them if they will give me [a chairmanship]. We just submit a list to them,” he said.

Gomez was recently reelected to his second term in Congress following his victory in the May 2025 midterm elections. /apl