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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Romualdez, Bersamin end 'tiff' between House, executive branch

Romualdez, Bersamin end 'tiff' between House, executive branch

Published Sep 8, 2025 04:30 pm

At A Glance

  • Cooler heads have prevailed among those in the House of Representatives and in the executive branch, if the meeting between Speaker Martin Romualdez and Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin is any indication.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin (left), House Speaker Martin Romualdez (PPAB)
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin (left), House Speaker Martin Romualdez (PPAB)


Cooler heads have prevailed among those in the House of Representatives and in the executive branch, if the meeting between Speaker Martin Romualdez and Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin is any indication.
Bersamin paid Romualdez a courtesy call at the House of Representatives Monday, Sept. 8. The Palace official was in Batasan to attend the budget hearing of the Office of the President (OP) before the Committee on Appropriations.
Reports said that the brief meeting between the two, which followed the OP budget hearing, "concluded with a warm handshake".
Pictures shared by the Speaker's office showed that Romualdez and Bersamin engaged in jovial conversation in a meeting that was also attended by presidential son, House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos of Ilocos Norte's first district.
It was only last Saturday, Sept. 6 when Bersamin issued a statement assailing the House of Representatives for its alleged "corruption and failure". This, after Cabinet officials reporteldy took offense from House party leaders' earlier assertion that the P6.793-trillion National Expenditure Program (NEP) or proposed national budget for 2026 was riddled with irregularities.
'We ask for understanding'
In a statement Monday, Romualdez thanked President Marcos on behalf of the House "for his understanding and his call for calm".
"We also acknowledge the dedicated work of the Cabinet in preparing the NEP. If our deliberations have caused any discomfort, we ask for understanding," said the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) president.
Alluding to the budget issue, Romualdez said, "The House’s duty is not to cast blame but to ensure that every peso in the budget is transparent, accountable, and truly for the people."
"We recognize that there are issues that must be addressed, and we begin by putting our own House in order. Walang exempted—kasama kami diyan (Nobody is exempted--including us)," he said.
"At the same time, we stand firm in our partnership with the executive, under the leadership of the President, to strengthen the budget process and to make sure that government resources are used wisely and well," the Leyte 1st district representative said.
Romualdez stressed that what happened was "not a clash of institutions".
"It is a partnership in accountability and service. The House stands united with the President and his Cabinet to restore trust, ensure transparency, and deliver a budget that is credible, acceptable, and beneficial to every Filipino," he said.
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