House Speaker Martin Romualdez (left), former president Rodrigo Duterte (Speaker’s office, Malacañang photo)

Speaker Martin Romuladez's fellow congressmen from Eastern Visayas have come up with a unified statement of support for the House leader following the tirades launched by former president Rodrigo Duterte last week. 

"We, the district congressmen of Eastern Visayas, hereby express our unwavering support for Speaker Martin Romualdez and his exceptional leadership of the House of Representatives," read the two-page statement. 

It was signed by Leyte Reps. Lolita Javier, Anna Victoria Veloso-Tuazon, Richard Gomez, and Carl Nicolas Cari; Samar Reps. Stephen James Tan and Michael Reynolds Tan; Southern Leyte Reps. Luz Mercado and Christopherson “Coco” Yap; Eastern Samar Rep. Maria Fe Abunda; Northern Samar Reps. Paul Daza and Harris Christopher Ongchuan; and Biliran Rep. Gerardo “Gerryboy” Espina Jr. 

"Throughout his tenure as Speaker, Speaker Romualdez has demonstrated a remarkable commitment to serving the Filipino people and advancing the legislative agenda of our nation," they said. 

They noted that Romualdez’s "strong leadership" has been "instrumental in steering the House towards productive and collaborative sessions, leading to the passage of vital legislation that addresses the diverse needs of our constituents in Eastern Visayas and beyond". 

Romualdez, who also represents Leyte in the House of Representatives, has been the Speaker since the start of the 19th Congress in July 2022. 

Via his signature tough talk, ex-President Duterte slammed the House for removing his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte's confidential funds under the proposed P5.768-trillion national budget for 2024. 

He also accused Romualdez of orchestrating the attacks against the Vice President.  

The former chief executive even said that Congress, which he called the "most rotten institution" needs to be audited in order to show Filipinos how taxpayers' money is spent.  

The House leadership has since released a Commission on Audit (COA) report showing the legislative chamber's spotless record. Meanwhile, many House members have also supported the move to realign confidential funds, the ultimate goal of which was to further secure the country's interests in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). 

"Speaker Romualdez's dedication to fostering unity among members of the House, regardless of political affiliations, has been instrumental in achieving bipartisan consensus on crucial issues. His willingness to listen to the concerns of all congressmen and women has created an inclusive and democratic atmosphere within the legislative body," the Eastern Visayas solons said. 

"Under Speaker Romualdez's guidance, we have witnessed significant accomplishments, 

including the passage of bills that promote economic development, healthcare, education, and infrastructure projects that directly benefit the people of Eastern Visayas," they added. 

"As district congressmen of Eastern Visayas, we wholeheartedly believe that Speaker Martin 

Romualdez's strong leadership of the House of Representatives is essential for the continued growth and prosperity of our region and the entire Philippines. We pledge our continued support for his leadership and look forward to working together to address the pressing issues facing our nation," they further said.