House Deputy Speaker and Antipolo Rep. Ronaldo Puno disclosed that House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez will resign from his post today and has called on his colleagues in the lower House to support the election of Isabela Rep. Francisco “Bojie” Dy III as his replacement,

“Magbibitiw na siya [bilang Speaker],” and he wants us to support Bojie Dy,” Puno said.

Puno said Romualdez is stepping down so as to free the House from allegations that it is not capable of conducting an independent probe on flood control projects.

“If he will just go on leave, people will just say he is just using his position to influence the House. He will resign so it is clear cut,” he added.

Earlier, Contractor spouses Curlee and Sarah Discaya alleged that lawmakers who ask them for commissions off government projects frequently mentioned the name of Romualdez and former House appropriations panel chairperson Zaldy Co to expedite the payoff.

But, Curlee later clarified that he never had a direct transaction with Romualdez and that the names of the Speaker and Co were just being name dropped by those who have been asking for commissions

Puno said that Romualdez backed Dy as his successor as the latter is one of the deputy speakers and one of the leaders of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s political party, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP).

“Congressman Dy has a good relationship with the House members, so it was expected that the Speaker asked us to support him. I would think the Speaker and [House] Majority Leader Sandro Marcos also discussed this and brought it before the President, and the President agreed,” Puno said.

The President met Romualdez and Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos on Tuesday afternoon while the session in the House was suspended amid rumored efforts to unseat Romualdez, said Puno

Puno then expressed confidence that Dy already has the speakership in the bag.

Dy was seen going inside the Speaker’s Office Wednesday morning after the staff of the House cleared out Romualdez’s belongings.

Other House leaders also went inside the Speaker’s Office. Assistant Majority Leader and Negros Occidental Rep. Javi Benitez said a party leader’s meeting will be held Wednesday morning.