Wikipedia

Martin Romualdez

In thisPhilippine name,themiddle nameor maternalfamily nameisGomezand the surname or paternal family name isRomualdez.

Ferdinand Martin Gomez Romualdez(Tagalog pronunciation:[ˈgɔmɛsɾoˈmwɐldɛs],born November 14, 1963) is a Filipino businessman, lawyer and politician serving as theSpeaker of the House of Representativessince 2022. He is also serving as therepresentativefor the1st districtofLeytesince 2019 and previously from 2007 to 2016. He formerly served as theHouse Majority Leaderfrom 2019 to 2022, and unsuccessfully ran forsenatorin the2016 elections.[3]He is a first cousin of PresidentBongbong Marcos.

Martin Romualdez
Official portrait, 2022
24thSpeaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines
Incumbent
Assumed office
July 25, 2022
Deputy
See list
Preceded byLord Allan Velasco
House Majority Leader
In office
July 22, 2019 – June 30, 2022
Preceded byFredenil Castro
Succeeded byManuel Jose Dalipe
Member of thePhilippine House of RepresentativesfromLeyte's1stdistrict
Incumbent
Assumed office
June 30, 2019
Preceded byYedda Marie Romualdez
In office
June 30, 2007 – June 30, 2016
Preceded byRemedios Petilla
Succeeded byYedda Marie Romualdez
Personal details
Born
Ferdinand Martin Gomez Romualdez[1]

(1963-11-14)November 14, 1963(age 61)
Manila,Philippines[2]
Political partyLakas–CMD
Spouse
​
​
(m.1999)​
Children4
Parent(s)Benjamin Romualdez(father)
Juliette Gomez-Romualdez (mother)
Alma mater

Romualdez is the owner of the newspaper companiesManila StandardandJournal Group of Publicationsand the mass media firmPhilippine Collective Media Corporation.[4]He is the national president of theLakas-Christian Muslim Democratspolitical party.[5]

Romualdez served as co-campaign managerforSara Duterte's successful2022 vice presidential campaign.Since the election, however, Duterte has grown antagonistic to Romualdez amidst a rift between the Marcos and Duterte political families.[6][7][8][9]By November 2024, Romualdez was included in an assassination threat by Duterte who claimed to have spoken with acontract killerto target him in the event of her own assassination.[10]

Early life and education

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Ferdinand Martin Gomez Romualdez is the third child of formerLeyte Governorand Ambassador to the United StatesBenjamin Romualdezand Juliette Gomez-Romualdez.[11][12][13]His father was once named byForbesas the 30th richest man in the Philippines with a net worth of₱3.3 billion,which thePresidential Commission on Good Governmentclaimed was ill-gotten.[14]He is the nephew of former first ladyImelda Romualdez Marcosand former PresidentFerdinand Marcos,while incumbent PresidentBongbongand SenatorImee Marcosare his cousins.[11][12]

Romualdez attendedCornell Universityin the United States from 1981 to 1985, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in government.[11][12][15]In 1988, he earned aCertificate of Special Studies in Administration and ManagementfromHarvard University.He later enrolled at theUniversity of the Philippines College of Lawin 1988, becoming aUpsilon Sigma Phifraternity member. He earned hisBachelor of Lawsdegree in 1992.[11][12][16]He was admitted to thebarin 1993.

In 1992, Romualdez was appointed as concurrent trustee and president of the Doña Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Medical Foundation and Dr. Vicente Orestes Romualdez Educational Foundation, both of which are owned by his family.[17]

In 1995, he started work as a director and legal counsel for the CARPA Realty Development Corporation. Prior to his political career, Romualdez served as chairman of the board forEquitable PCI Bank.[18]He also served as a chairman ofBenguet Corporation.[19]

Political career

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Romualdez in 2009.

Romualdez was first elected as representative ofLeyte's 1st congressional districtin2007.He was re-elected in2010and in2013.

Romualdez authored House Bill No. 1039, which was enacted into law by PresidentBenigno Aquino IIIas Republic Act No. 10754, orAn act on expanding the benefits and privileges of people with disabilities.[20]

In April 2014, Romualdez expressed interest in running for senator in the2016 elections.[21]He filed his certificate of candidacy for senator on October 13, 2015.[3]On November 7, 2015, Romualdez declared his support for presidential candidateJejomar Binay.[22]In 2016Davao CityMayor and presidential aspirantRodrigo Dutertealso endorsed the candidacy of Romualdez.[23]He ran under theLakas–CMDparty, which he is the national president of, but ultimately failed to win a senate seat, placing 15th.

In the2019 elections,Romualdez again won as representative ofLeyte's 1st congressional district.Romualdez was later elected House Majority Leader of the18th Congress.

On July 10, 2020, Martin and his wifeYedda Marie Romualdezwere among the 70 congressmen who voted to reject thefranchise renewal of ABS-CBN.[24]

In December 2021, Romualdez became the campaign manager ofSara Duterte's vice presidential campaign alongsideDavao OccidentalGovernorClaude Bautista.[25][26][27]

House Speaker (2022–present)

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Romualdez (right) during PresidentBongbong Marcos'sfirst State of the Nation Addressin 2022.
Romualdez and hisMalaysiancounterpart,Speaker of the Dewan RakyatJohari Abdul,in 2025.

Romualdez waselected in July 2022asSpeaker of the House of Representativesby 284 House members.[28]During his speakership, Romualdez also assumed legislative caretaker roles for the majority of the vacated districts during the19th Congress,such asCavite–7th(laterfilledbyCrispin Diego Remulla),[29]Negros Oriental–3rd,Batangas–6th,Palawan–3rd,Palawan–1st,Cavite–4th,andNegros Occidental–3rd.[30][31]

In November 2022, Romualdez, along with six other lawmakers, filed House Bill No. 6398 proposing the creation of theMaharlika Investment Fund,asovereign wealth fundfor the Philippines inspired bySouth Korea'sKorea Investment Corporation.[32][33]The proposal drew mixed reactions from economists and mostly negative reactions from the general public.[34][35]

Role in the Marcos-Duterte rift

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Romualdez was instrumental in the deepening rift between theMarcosand Duterte families.[36]Under Romualdez's watch, the House denied Vice President and Education SecretarySara Duterte's requests for confidential funds that could be used for the Education department's proposedReserve Officers' Training Corpsprogram[37]but swiftly passed the same funds for theOffice of the President;[38]this led Sara's father and former PresidentRodrigo Duterteto allege a connivance between Romualdez and the leftistMakabayan Blocin stripping Sara of confidential funds.[37]Rodrigo Duterte criticized the House as the "most rotten institution" in the country[39]and demanded anauditof the House under Romualdez;[40]Duterte's comments offended some House members[41]including Romualdez,[42]prompting the House to issue a loyalty checkresolutionin support of Romualdez. Shortly after, the House expelled Duterte's political allies former president and CongresswomanGloria Macapagal-Arroyoand CongressmanIsidro Ungabas Deputy House Speakers for failing to sign the resolution.[43]Several House members of Duterte's party,PDP-Laban,laterparty-switched,mostly to the Romualdez-ledLakas-CMD,[44]In late November 2023, reports circulated that some House members want Vice President Sara impeached.[45]The House later began tackling at least three house resolutions filed separately by the Makabayan Bloc, House Human Rights Panel chairpersonBienvenido Abante Jr.and1-Rider PartylistRep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez, and Albay 1st District Rep.Edcel Lagman[46]urging the Marcos administration to cooperate with the International Criminal Court's investigation intoDuterte's war on drugs;Romualdez denied prioritizing the measures.[47]

A month later, theNational Telecommunications Commissionimposed a 30-day suspension onSMNI,a media network which hosted Rodrigo Duterte's platformGikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa,after the House adopted a resolution filed byPBA PartylistRepresentative Margarita Nograles, who claimed that the network was propagatingfalse information.[48]Two hosts of another SMNI talk show,Laban Kasama ang Bayan,were detained and cited in contempt by the House after one of its hosts–Jeffrey Celiz–refused to reveal his source for his claim that Romualdez had₱1.8 billion worth of travel funds.[49]

Amid the feud of the Marcos and Duterte clans in late April 2023, Romualdez said the House will probe into an agreement Duterte made during his presidency with Chinese PresidentXi Jinping.Under the agreement, Duterte agreed to maintain the "status quo" in the South China Sea to avoid escalating a war. Political analyst Ronald Llamas said the probe was engineered by President Bongbong Marcos as a "political payback" to Duterte's verbal attacks and to reduce Duterte's political influence ahead of the 2025 midterm elections.[50]

Charter change attempts

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Efforts to amend the Constitution intensified in January 2024 after pro-Charter changegroup, People's Initiative for Reform Modernization and Action (PIRMA), admitted talking with Romualdez and claimed responsibility for a signature drive campaign that attempted to start aPeople's Initiative.[51]The proponents proposed that both chambers of the Congress—the House of Representatives and the Senate—vote jointly on the proposed amendments in aconstitutional assembly;consequentially, the 24-member Senate unanimously rejected the proposal since its vote would be overpowered by the 316-member House.[52]The signature drive has been marred by allegations of vote-buying,[53]and by evening of January 23, the proponents claimed to have achieved the required minimum 12 percent of national voters threshold.[54]Romualdez denied spearheading the initiative, although a video evidence showing the opposite was later disclosed by SenatorFrancis Escudero.[55]As of December 2023, Romualdez is the president of the Philippine Constitution Association.[56]

Personal life

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See also:Romualdez family
Romualdez with his wifeYeddain 2011

Romualdez marriedYedda Marie Kittilstvedt,who represented the Philippines atMiss International 1996,in civil rites inHong Kongin November 1999, with a church wedding following at Santuario de San Antonio inForbes Park, Makation February 4, 2001.[57]They have four children.

References

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  1. ^"Martin Romualdez and wife Yedda: A love built on helping others".Manila Standard. February 17, 2016. Archived fromthe originalon October 19, 2019.RetrievedOctober 19,2019.
  2. ^https://comelec.gov.ph/php-tpls-attachments/2025NLE/COC_2025NLE/COC_Local/COC_Local_R8/LEYTE/OPES_LEYTE/HOR_D1_ROMUALDEZ_FERDINAND_MARTIN_G.pdf
  3. ^ab"Romualdez files COC for senator; mum on presidential pick".Philippine Daily Inquirer. October 13, 2015.RetrievedApril 28,2016.
  4. ^"Razon sells Manila Standard Today to Romualdez group".The Philippine Star.April 16, 2010.RetrievedApril 29,2016.
  5. ^"Lakas–CMD chief: In democracy, anyone can run".Philippine Daily Inquirer.May 25, 2015.RetrievedApril 29,2016.
  6. ^Magsambol, Bonz (June 23, 2023)."Sara Duterte: Romualdez had no part in urging me to run for VP".Rappler.Manila,Philippines: Rappler Inc.RetrievedFebruary 21,2025.On Monday, June 5, Duterte deliberately skipped mentioning the President's middle name [Romualdez] as she acknowledged the Chief Executive during her speech[....] 'I won't mention your middle initial. You know that I love you,' Duterte said, without explaining her action.
  7. ^Magsambol, Bonz (September 11, 2024)."Sara Duterte says 'ready' to work with zero OVP budget amid clash with House".Rappler.Manila,Philippines: Rappler Inc.RetrievedFebruary 21,2025.Duterte had accused Speaker Martin Romualdez and House committee appropriations chairmanZaldy Coof meddling in the 2023 budget of theDepartment of Education(DepEd) when she was the education secretary[...]
  8. ^Sarao, Zacarian (November 22, 2024)."VP Duterte: Romualdez is the only person who wants to kill me".Inquirer News.Manila,Philippines: INQUIRER.net.RetrievedFebruary 21,2025.
  9. ^Andrade, Jeannette I. (November 22, 2024)."Romualdez calls out VP Sara Duterte: Explain fund use yourself".Inquirer News.INQUIRER.net.RetrievedFebruary 21,2025.
  10. ^Panti, Llanesca T. (November 25, 2024)."VP Sara kill plot meant to distract from confi fund mess — Romualdez".GMA News Online.GMA Network Inc.RetrievedFebruary 21,2025.
  11. ^abcd"Who is Martin Romualdez?".ABS-CBN News. August 18, 2009. Archived fromthe originalon April 30, 2018.RetrievedNovember 29,2019.
  12. ^abcdTan, Kimberly Jane; Calonzo, Andreo (November 20, 2009)."'Lavish dinner' host is chief fund raiser of Arroyo party ".GMA News. Archived fromthe originalon November 29, 2019.RetrievedNovember 29,2019.
  13. ^Ong, Czarina Nicole (June 25, 2018)."Sandiganbayan junks forfeiture case against Imelda's late brother".Manila Bulletin. Archived fromthe originalon November 29, 2019.RetrievedNovember 29,2019.
  14. ^"Romualdez: My father was not a Marcos crony".ABS-CBN News.February 15, 2016.
  15. ^Wilensky, Joe (November 14, 2013)."Alumni, students aid the Philippines".Cornell Chronicle. Archived fromthe originalon September 3, 2017.RetrievedNovember 29,2019.
  16. ^"CEU Law dean leads Upsilon UNO awardees".Manila Bulletin. April 9, 2017. Archived fromthe originalon April 18, 2019.RetrievedNovember 29,2019.
  17. ^Gabieta, Joey A. (February 26, 2012)."Leyteños pay their last respects to Romualdez".INQUIRER.net.RetrievedMarch 19,2023.
  18. ^"Who I Am: Martin Romualdez".August 21, 2015. Archived fromthe originalon August 21, 2015.RetrievedMarch 19,2023.
  19. ^"Rapid growth, ravaged land: Zamboanga Sibugay's mining dilemma".Rappler.December 31, 2024.RetrievedDecember 31,2024.
  20. ^"Aquino signs into law Romualdez's PWD bill".Philippine Daily Inquirer.March 30, 2016.RetrievedApril 29,2016.
  21. ^"Romualdez eyes Senate seat in 2016".Philippine Daily Inquirer.April 1, 2016.RetrievedApril 28,2016.
  22. ^"Romualdez cousins supporting Binay in 2016".Rappler.December 7, 2015.RetrievedFebruary 18,2016.
  23. ^Ponce Pacpaco, Ryan (May 7, 2016)."Vote for Romualdez –– Duterte".Journal Online. Archived fromthe originalon May 7, 2016.RetrievedMay 8,2016.
  24. ^Perez-Rubio, Bella (July 10, 2020)."List of lawmakers who voted for and against ABS-CBN franchise renewal".Philstar.RetrievedJuly 22,2020.
  25. ^Quismorio, Ellson (January 26, 2024)."'I was her campaign manager': Martin responds to claim that he had no hand in Sara's VP bid ".Manila Bulletin.Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation.RetrievedFebruary 1,2024.
  26. ^Atienza, Kyle Aristophere T. (December 14, 2021)."Duterte abandons ambition to become a senator".BusinessWorld Online.BusinessWorld Publishing.RetrievedFebruary 1,2024.
  27. ^Quismorio, Ellson (June 15, 2022)."VP-elect Duterte tells funny story about Romualdez's dedication as her campaign manager".Manila Bulletin.Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation.RetrievedFebruary 1,2024.
  28. ^Gregorio, Xave (July 25, 2022)."Marcos cousin Martin Romualdez is new House speaker".The Philippine Star.Archived fromthe originalon July 25, 2022.RetrievedJanuary 29,2024.
  29. ^Galvez, Daphne (July 26, 2022)."Speaker Romualdez becomes caretaker of Cavite's 7th district".INQUIRER.net.RetrievedMay 1,2024.
  30. ^Quismoro, Ellson (April 30, 2024)."Romualdez tapped as caretaker of late Barzaga's district".Manila Bulletin.RetrievedMay 1,2024.
  31. ^Pedrosa, Merlinda A.; Ellera, Teresa D. (August 18, 2024)."Speaker Romualdez temporary caretaker of 3rd District of Negros Occ".SunStar.RetrievedAugust 23,2024.
  32. ^"Romualdez, Sandro Marcos file bill creating PH sovereign wealth fund".Rappler.November 29, 2022.RetrievedDecember 3,2022.
  33. ^Cigaral, Ian Nicolas (December 3, 2022)."Does the P250-B Maharlika Wealth Fund make sense?".Philstar.RetrievedDecember 3,2022.
  34. ^Lacsamana, Brontë H. (December 5, 2022)."Maharlika Wealth Fund: Cheers and fears".BusinessWorld Online.RetrievedMarch 19,2023.
  35. ^de Guzman, Chad (December 16, 2022)."Why the Philippines' Sovereign Wealth Fund is Controversial".Time.RetrievedMarch 19,2023.
  36. ^Morella, Cecil (January 28, 2024)."Marcos, Duterte supporters rally in Philippines as family rift deepens".ABS-CBN News.Agence France-Presse.Archived fromthe originalon January 28, 2024.RetrievedJanuary 29,2024.
  37. ^abRegalado, Edith (October 12, 2023)."Duterte defends Sara on confidential funds".The Philippine Star.RetrievedOctober 25,2023.
  38. ^Cruz, RG (September 5, 2023)."House panel OKs Marcos office's budget with no questions asked; surveillance funds intact".ABS-CBN News.Archived fromthe originalon September 5, 2023.RetrievedNovember 5,2023.
  39. ^Banzuelo, Neil (October 11, 2023)."Duterte hits House after OVP is stripped of confidential funds".BusinessWorld.Archived fromthe originalon October 12, 2023.RetrievedNovember 9,2023.
  40. ^Quismorio, Ellson (November 14, 2023)."Lakas-CMD membership in House continues to grow at the expense of PDP-Laban".Manila Bulletin.Archived fromthe originalon November 24, 2023.RetrievedNovember 24,2023.
  41. ^Lalu, Gabriel Pabico (October 16, 2023)."House reps find Duterte's tirades offensive, a serious attack – secretary general".Philippine Daily Inquirer.Archived fromthe originalon October 16, 2023.RetrievedNovember 9,2023.
  42. ^LLanesca T., Panti (November 6, 2023)."Speaker vows fight vs. those who malign House; deputy tags Duterte".GMA News Online.Archived fromthe originalon November 7, 2023.RetrievedNovember 24,2023.
  43. ^Galang, Bamba (November 9, 2023)."Political analyst: More 'tectonic shifts' seen in House as 2025 polls approach".CNN Philippines.Archived fromthe originalon November 9, 2023.RetrievedNovember 9,2023.
  44. ^Panti, Llanesca T. (November 14, 2023)."7 lawmakers from Duterte-chaired PDP-Laban defect to Romualdez-led Lakas CMD".GMA News Online.Archived fromthe originalon November 15, 2023.RetrievedNovember 25,2023.
  45. ^Mangaluz, Jean (November 21, 2023)."Ex-President Duterte: I'll run for senator or VP if Sara is impeached".Philippine Daily Inquirer.Archived fromthe originalon November 21, 2023.RetrievedNovember 24,2023.
  46. ^Lalu, Gabriel Pabico (November 22, 2023)."Lagman on reso urging PH cooperation with ICC: We're not putting anyone on trial".Philippine Daily Inquirer.Archived fromthe originalon November 24, 2023.RetrievedNovember 24,2023.
  47. ^Cervantes, Filane Mikee (November 23, 2023)."House tackling ICC resolution just 'a matter of course'".Philippine News Agency.Archived fromthe originalon November 23, 2023.RetrievedNovember 24,2023.
  48. ^Sarao, Zacarian (December 21, 2023)."NTC suspends SMNI operations for 30 days".Philippine Daily Inquirer.Archived fromthe originalon December 21, 2023.RetrievedDecember 21,2023.
  49. ^"MTRCB suspends SMNI shows hosted by ex-Pres. Duterte, Badoy, Celiz".CNN Philippines.December 19, 2023. Archived fromthe originalon December 19, 2023.RetrievedDecember 19,2023.
  50. ^Robles, Alan (May 1, 2024)."South China Sea: probe into Duterte-Xi pact sparks rumours of political payback".South China Morning Post.Archived fromthe originalon May 1, 2024.RetrievedMay 1,2024.
  51. ^Galang, Bamba (January 15, 2024)."Pro-Cha-cha group admits initiating signature drive, talking with Romualdez".CNN Philippines.Archived fromthe originalon January 15, 2024.RetrievedJanuary 29,2024.
  52. ^Ordoñez, John Victor D. (January 23, 2024)."Senate rejects efforts to dilute vote on 'Cha-cha'".BusinessWorld.Archived fromthe originalon January 23, 2024.RetrievedJanuary 29,2024.
  53. ^"PIRMA denies vote buying to push for Cha-cha via people's initiative".CNN Philippines.January 15, 2024. Archived fromthe originalon January 15, 2024.RetrievedJanuary 29,2024.
  54. ^Garner, Jom (January 4, 2024)."People's initiative has reached required number of signatures — Salceda".Daily Tribune.Archived fromthe originalon January 24, 2024.RetrievedJanuary 25,2024.
  55. ^Torregoza, Hannah (January 28, 2024)."'May resibo': Escudero shows proof of Romualdez's Cha-cha plans via People's Initiatives ".Manila Bulletin.Archived fromthe originalon January 29, 2024.RetrievedJanuary 29,2024.
  56. ^Porcalla, Delon (December 13, 2023)."Speaker: House to push for Cha-cha next year".The Philippine Star.RetrievedMay 1,2024.
  57. ^Ramirez, Donnie C. (February 11, 2001)."Fullest blessing on fullest love".Philippine Daily Inquirer.The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. p. F1.RetrievedDecember 25,2023.
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House of Representatives of the Philippines
Preceded by
Remedios Petilla
 Member of theHouse of RepresentativesfromLeyte
2007-2016 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of theHouse of RepresentativesfromLeyte
2019-present 		Incumbent
Preceded by House Majority Leader
2019–2022 		Succeeded by
Manuel Jose Dalipe
Preceded by Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines
2022–present 		Incumbent
Order of precedence
Preceded byasPresident of the Senate of the Philippines Order of Precedence of the Philippines
asSpeaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines 		Succeeded byasChief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
Lines of succession
Preceded byasPresident of the Senate of the Philippines Philippine presidential line of succession
asSpeaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines 		Last
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