House Speaker Martin Romualdez (left), Vice President Sara Duterte (Speaker’s office, Facebook)

House Speaker Martin Romualdez gave a classy, statesman-like response when asked to comment on lawyer Harry Roque's billing of Vice President Sara Duterte as the new opposition leader. 

According to Romualdez, it's Vice President Duterte's opinion on the subject that actually matters. 

"I guess that’s Mr. Harry Roque’s statements, but then I guess we’ll just have to hear it from the Vice President," Romualdez, leader of the 300-plus strong House of Representatives, said in a chance interview with reporters. 

"If and when the time comes for her (VP Duterte) to make statements or to make any policy or statements on policies on the national government,” he added. 

Romualdez is a key administration figure, being President Marcos' top lieutenant in the legislature. The two are cousins. 

Vice President Duterte is the second highest-ranked official of the land; Romualdez is the fourth. 

The lady official recently resigned from her post in the Marcos Cabinet as Department of Education (DepEd) secretary, in what pundits believed was a prelude to the May 2025 mid-term elections. 

"There’s some politics and there’s some personal and we only wish the Vice President nothing but the best and we wish her the best of luck in all endeavors and in her service to the Filipino people,” Romualdez said of the Vice President's move. 

Vice President Duterte is the eldest daughter of administration critic, former president Rodrigo Duterte. Roque formerly served as spokesperson for the elder Duterte. 

Romualdez, Leyte's 1st district congressman, is the president of the dominant Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party.