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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Magiging peaceful na': Solons back House leadership change

'Magiging peaceful na': Solons back House leadership change

Published Sep 17, 2025 01:39 pm

At A Glance

  • Bacolod City lone district Rep. Albee Benitez, Cebu 5th district Rep. Vincent Franco "Duke" Frasco, and Iloilo 3rd district Rep. Lorenz Defensor are all in favor of a leadership change in the House of Representatives, which has been rocked by the flood control projects corruption scandal.
The House plenary (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
The House plenary (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)


Bacolod City lone district Rep. Albee Benitez, Cebu 5th district Rep. Vincent Franco "Duke" Frasco, and Iloilo 3rd district Rep. Lorenz Defensor are all in favor of a leadership change in the House of Representatives, which has been rocked by the flood control projects corruption scandal.
Benitez and Defensor gave separate interviews to House reporters Wednesday, Sept. 17 ahead of the plenary session.
Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez is expected to resign as House Speaker during plenary session. He has asked party leaders to nominate and support Deputy Speaker Isabela 6th district Rep. Bojie Dy as his successor.
"I think this has been building up, yung tension for the past how many weeks. Ito, umabot na sa ganito (It has come to this). I think...magiging peaceful na ang ating environment dito (the environment here will be peaceful now)," Benitez said.
"Ever since naman di ba, ang panawagan ko talaga is (Ever since my appeal has really been)...to have a change in leadership, to have a new image sa ating House of Representatives. So that is probably the best way to move forward," he said.
Benitez said the leadership change will "help them find out the truth about the problem that's rocking the House".
Support for Bojie Dy
Benitez had been rumored to be eyeing the speakership at the start of the 20th Congress last June.
"I think mayroon nang desisyon ang majority of our colleagues and members. Si Cong Bojie Dy na yan (I think the majority of our colleagues and members already have a decision. Cong Bojie Dy will win it)," he said.
Meanwhile, Frasco, another rumored speakership aspirant this Congress, extended his support to Dy in a message posted on his social media.
"I extend my full support to Congressman Bojie Dy as the new Speaker of the House of Representatives. I am confident in his leadership and know him to be a man of integrity and good character," he said.
"I look forward to working with Speaker Bojie in advancing meaningful legislation that will uplift the lives of the Filipino people. It is now time for the House of Representatives to stand united so that our nation may finally begin its path toward healing," Frasco added.
Rebuild reputation, regain integrity
Defensor, a deputy majority leader, favored the leadership shake-up as it will allow the House to "rebuild its reputation".
"I'm in favor of change at this point in time. We need to regain, as I said, the identity and reputation of the House of Representatives," he said.
"The House needs to rebuild its reputation and regain its integrity after what has happened to the anomalous budget on the flood control [projects]. We have to rebuild public trust, what happened to the budget and the implementation of hundreds of billions of flood control--it is the highest form of plunder, plunder in the highest degree," he noted.
"And it's sad that it has affected the membership of the House of Representatives. I trust the independent commission of the President will find out the truth about it. I hope there will be accountability," Defensor said.
He sternly said: "Dapat may managot, may makasuhan, at dapat may makulong dahil dito sa maanomalyang flood control that has destroyed the reputation of both Houses--the Senate and Congress.
(Someone must be held accountable, charged, and imprisoned because of this anomalous flood control issue that has destroyed the reputation of both Houses--the Senate and Congress.)
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