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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Was Romualdez's 'iiwan sa gitna ng unos' remark meant for VP Duterte? You be the judge

Was Romualdez's 'iiwan sa gitna ng unos' remark meant for VP Duterte? You be the judge

Published Jul 28, 2025 07:43 pm

At A Glance

  • Did House Speaker Martin Romualdez take a swipe at Vice President Sara Duterte in his speech during plenary session Monday, July 28?
Vice President Sara Duterte (left), House Speaker Martin Romualdez (PPAB)
Vice President Sara Duterte (left), House Speaker Martin Romualdez (PPAB)


Did House Speaker Martin Romualdez take a swipe at Vice President Sara Duterte in his speech during plenary session Monday, July 28?
Romualdez, the newly-minted House chief, used similes on typhoons and disaster to get some of his points across as he addressed the plenary for the first time in the 20th Congress.
“Hindi ko kayo iiwan sa gitna ng unos. Gaya ng ama ng tahanan na hindi natutulog kapag may bagyong papasok, babantayan ko ang ating kapulungan (I will not leave you in the middle of a storm. Like the father of a household who does not sleep when a typhoon is approaching, I will keep watch over our chamber)," he said, triggering a loud applause from his House colleagues.
"Sisiguraduhin kong walang bubong ang babagsak, walang pader ang magigiba, at walang miyembro ang mapapabayaan (I will make sure no roof collapses, no wall falls, and no member is left behind)," Romualdez added.
The Speaker gave these remarks amid some congressmen's criticism of Vice President Duterte, particularly her supposed penchant for being abroad whenever there’s a local disaster, like the most recent case of typhoons and floods.
The Vice President was reportedly at The Hague in the Netherlands just as heavy rains caused widespread flooding and power outages across Luzon last week.
In July 2024, the controversial lady official also flew to Germany with her family for a “personal trip” to reportedly attend a Taylor Swift concert while Typhoon "Carina" was wreaking havoc back home.
Romualdez further said: “Kahit anong bagyo at baha, hindi tayo susuko. Titindig tayo at hindi panghihinaan ng loob. Kasama ninyo ako sa pagsalubong ng bagong araw (No matter the storms and floods, we will not give up. We will rise and stay strong. I stand with you in welcoming a new day)."
Monday's plenary session preceeded President Marcos' fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), which was held at the House plenary hall.
Vice President Duterte--a critic of both Romualdez and Marcos--was invited to the event, but she sent her regrets.
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