Speaker Romualdez quits amid flood control scandal, replaced by Rep. Dy

SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez resigned on Wednesday amid mounting criticism of his alleged role in the Philippines' multibillion-peso flood control scandal, triggering a leadership shakeup in the House of Representatives just a week after a similar change in the Senate.

- By Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Shortly after, 253 congressmen voted to replace him with Isabela Rep. Faustino "Bojie" Dy III.

"The issues surrounding certain infrastructure projects have raised questions that bring not only upon me, but upon this institution we all serve," Mr. Romualdez, who was Speaker for three years, told the House floor. "The longer I stay, the heavier that burden grows on me, on the House, and on the President."

The resignation of Mr. Romualdez, the President's cousin, is the culmination of a broader congressional leadership shakeup that had been brewing since early September, and has already triggered a change in Senate leadership, with Senator Vicente "Tito" C. Sotto III replacing Francis G. Escudero amid a fallout from the flood control scandal.

Mr. Romualdez said he quit to let the House have a fresh start and begin efforts to regain public trust.

"The House needs this change," Senior Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo Rep. Lorenz R. Defensor told reporters before the speakership vote. "It needs to rebuild its reputation and regain its integrity after what has happened to the anomalous budget on flood control projects."

Reports of irregularities in infrastructure contracts have fueled public outrage after a series of typhoons and monsoon rains earlier this year left Metro Manila and nearby provinces flooded despite extensive flood control projects.