House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez did such a great job as Vice President-elect Sara Duterte's campaign manager that the latter couldn't help but brag about it, even to President-elect Bongbong Marcos.
In her speech during Romualdez's oath-taking in Tacloban on Wednesday, June 15, Duterte shared how reelected Leyte 1st district congressman "did it all" for her, covering for even her meals during the grueling campaign season.
"I’d like to personally thank, publicly thank Cong. Martin Romualdez for taking me in, in Lakas-CMD (Christian Muslim Democrats) and accepting the challenge to be my campaign manager, one of my two, campaign managers during the last election. It was not without...and challenges but you did very well.. 32.2 miillion votes," Duterte said, referring to her impressive total vote count.
"You did it all and alam niyo, pagod, puyat, luha, lahat ‘yon ni Cong. Martin Romualdez (you know, that was the product of Cong. Martin Romualdez's exhaustion, loss of sleep, and tears) and as a candidate I’m truly appreciative of how he took care of me, actually silang dalawa, dalawang campaign managers ko (actually the two of them, my two campaign managers)," she said.
Duterte's other campaign manager during the poll season was Davao Occidental Governor Claude Bautista.
"I was always with food, I was always full and lagi silang nagpapalitan na nagpapadala ng pagkain sa akin (they always alternate in sending me food), so one campaign manager will send today, the next day, the other campaign manager will send food," Duterte narrated.
"In fact, noong kinwento ko ‘yun kay Pres. Marcos, sabi ko, 'Sir, napakaswerte ko talaga dahil busog ako lagi dahil lagi akong pinapadalhan (When I told President Marcos about it, I said, 'Sir, I'm so lucky because I'm always full with the food they are sending).' Sabi niya, 'Nasaan na ba mga campaign managers ko, bakit hindi ganito ang nangyayari sa akin? (He said, 'Where are my campaign managers, why isn't this happening to me?)'" she said, eliciting laughter from the crowd.
"So I truly thankful for all that happened because, a learning experience from me, and I am appreciative of all that you have taught me, kayong lahat, mga kababayan ko, and I commit to be beside you in the service of our country," said Duterte, who is the Lakas-CMD chairperson.
Romualdez is the Lakas-CMD president.
Speaking of Marcos, he also greeted Romualdez on his oath-taking via video message.
"I would just like to add my congratulations to the officers and officials taking their oath today, namely of course the honorable Ferdinand Martin Gomez Romualdez who is taking his oath as congressman, the first district, and is the incoming Speaker of the House of Representatives," Marcos said.
"Looking forward to working with you in the next six years," he added.