Five lawmakers from Iloilo voted to elect Isabela Rep. Faustino “Bojie” Dy III as the new Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Dy secured a total of 253 votes from the lower chamber on Wednesday, Sept. 17. He replaced Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez.
Among those who cast their vote in favor of Dy were Julienne Baronda of Iloilo City, Janette Garin of Iloilo province’s First District, Kathryn Joyce Fermin-Gorriceta of the Second District, Lorenz Defensor of the Third District, and Ferjenel Biron of the Fourth District.
Jojo Ang of USWAG Ilonggo Party-list and Binky Binky Tupas of the Fifth District were absent during the session.
In a statement, Baronda said she expects that “the Gordian knot that tied Congress to the anomalous flood control projects to be cut” with the election of Dy.
“He has my full support as he leads the House to restore the faith, trust, and confidence of the Filipino in the legislature, which the controversy has tarnished,” she said.
“I reiterate my unequivocal support for any and all investigations, such as those of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure and the House InfraCom, which would bring to light the truth, penalize or jail the guilty, and put in place measures, legislative and otherwise, against the repeated plunder of our public coffers,” Baronda added.
In an interview prior to the session, Defensor said: “The House needs this change. The House needs to rebuild its reputation and regain its integrity after what has happened with the anomalous budget on the flood control. We have to rebuild the public trust.”
Romualdez and Ang were among the lawmakers accused by contractors Sarah and Curlee Discaya of receiving kickbacks from flood control projects.
The two denied the Discayas’ accusations.IMT
