House Speaker Martin Romualdez (right) with Vice President Sara Duterte super fan (Ely Saludar on X)

House Speaker Martin Romualdez had a funny interaction with someone who can be described as a "super fan" of Vice President Sara Duterte in  Japan. 

The interaction was caught on video and posted on X by netizen Ely Saludar. 

In the 28-second clip, the overseas Filipino worker (OFW)-slash-super fan warmly greeted Romualdez with a bow and a handshake. The Philippine officials was gracious and all smiles. 

The OFW carried a small Philippine flag and a notebook splayed open and scribbled with the words "Please support VP Inday Sara Duterte ♡". Romualdez looked at the sign for a couple of seconds before signaling to the cameraman to snap photos. 

It was at this point when the VP Duterte super fan accidentally hit Romualdez in the face with the Philippine flag, with the tip of the stick almost going inside the latter's nostril in comedic fashion. 
 

(Ely Saludar on X)

But the House leader kept on smiling and made sure the OFW's companions took enough photos. The clip has been viewed over 370,000 times. 

Romualdez would react to this interaction in a short statement Sunday, Dec. 17: 

"I agree with the [OFW] who greeted me in Japan with a placard bearing a significant message. We should all support and respect the Vice President," the Leyte 1st district representative said. 

"The same respect and support that we should extend to the President and other government officials," added Romualdez, who flew to Tokyo to accompany President Marcos in the ongoing Commemorative Summit on Japan-ASEAN relations. 

Romualdez and VP Duterte were former party-mates at Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD). However, the latter left the party earlier this year amid a squabble in the House leadership involving Pampanga 2nd district Rep. and former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. 

Romualdez was one of Duterte's campaign managers during the May 2022 polls.