House Speaker Martin Romualdez (Speaker’s office)

In a rare display of anger, Speaker Martin Romualdez slammed on Monday, Nov. 6 the "opportunistic motives" of a "dissatisfied few" against the House of Representatives. 

Romualdez, president of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party, did so on the plenary floor on the first day of session following the five-week legislative break. 

"Let it be said, never must we countenance or allow others not so likely-minded individuals who choose to malign or put down the image of this institution and dictate the direction we must go," he said. 

"I urge everyone to rally behind our true moral compass – the will of the Filipino people," said the Leyte 1st district representative.

Raising his voice, Romualdez said: "Tatayo ako laban sa sinuman na mananakot sa atin para masunod lamang ang gusto nila. Titindig ako — tayong lahat— para sa kapakanan ng bayan." 

(I will stand against anybody who will try to strike fear in us just to achieve their goals. I will take a stand--all of us will--for the sake of the country). 

He says that as solons, their defense against those who endanger the integrity of the House of Representatives is "to fulfill our utmost priority, which is to bring forth the most significant and responsive pieces of legislation".

"It is true that we, the members of this 300-plus strong chamber, compose a cluster of high-minded individuals possessing a diversity of passionate views and different political perspectives.

"However, we remain steadfast as we set our differences aside and become fiercely united whenever the institution we courageously devote our efforts to, or any individual member of this chamber for that matter, is being threatened by opportunistic motives that aim to distract us from fulfilling our mandate," the House leader said, 

"Let not our hard work be undermined by a dissatisfied few whose only intention is to sow divisiveness. Instead, let our outputs speak for our loyalty to our country, the constitution, and the entire Filipino people," Romualdez said, without mentioning any names. 

Romualdez emphasized that the" politics of division" has no place in the chamber. "This still holds to this day, only now I reiterate this with a stronger resolve and greater conviction." 

In past weeks, Romualdez and the House in general has been assailed by former president Rodrigo Duterte on the chamber's realignment of confidential funds in the proposed 20.24 national budget, as well as claims of pork barrel. 

Duterte's disparaging comments against the House were made on television interviews.

He said that Congress was the "most rotten institution" in the country.