Martin Romualdez

Ferdinand Martin Gomez Romualdez Sr. (Tagalog pronunciation: [ˈgɔmɛs ɾoˈmwɐldɛs], born November 14, 1963) is a Filipino politician, businessman, and lawyer who served as the 28th speaker of the House of Representatives from 2022 until his resignation in 2025 which followed claims of his alleged involvement in ghost flood control projects. He has also served as the representative for Leyte's first district since 2019 and previously from 2007 to 2016.^[1][2]

Early life and education

Ferdinand Martin Gomez Romualdez is the third child of former Leyte Governor and Ambassador to the United States Benjamin Romualdez and Juliette Gomez-Romualdez. His father was once named by Forbes as the 30th richest man in the Philippines with a net worth of ₱3.3 billion, which the Presidential Commission on Good Government claimed was ill-gotten. He is the nephew of former first lady Imelda Marcos and former President Ferdinand Marcos, while incumbent President Bongbong and Senator Imee Marcos are his cousins.^[1]

Elections

Romualdez was first elected as representative of Leyte's first district in 2007. He was re-elected in 2010 and in 2013.^[1]

Tenure

Romualdez authored House Bill No. 1039, which was enacted as Republic Act No. 10754, expanding benefits and privileges for persons with disabilities in the Philippines and improving their access to essential goods and services through VAT exemptions and statutory discounts.^[1]

House Speaker (2022–2025)

Romualdez was as Speaker of the House of Representatives elected in July 2022, receiving the votes of the 284 House members. During his speakership, Romualdez also assumed legislative caretaker roles for the majority of the vacated districts during the 19th Congress, such as Cavite–7th (later filled by Crispin Diego Remulla), Negros Oriental–3rd, Batangas–6th, Palawan–3rd, Palawan–1st, Cavite–4th, and Negros Occidental–3rd.^[1]

Role in the Marcos–Duterte rift

Romualdez was instrumental in the deepening rift between the Marcos and Duterte families. Under Romualdez's watch, the House denied Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte's requests for confidential funds that could be used for the Education department's proposed Reserve Officers' Training Corps program but swiftly passed the same funds for the Office of the President; this led Sara's father and former President Rodrigo Duterte to allege a connivance between Romualdez and the leftist Makabayan bloc in stripping Sara of confidential funds.^[1]

Charter change attempts

Efforts to amend the Constitution intensified in January 2024 after pro-Charter Change group, People's Initiative for Reform Modernization and Action (PIRMA), admitted talking with Romualdez and claimed responsibility for a signature drive campaign that attempted to start a People's Initiative. The proponents proposed that both chambers of the Congress—the House of Representatives and the Senate—vote jointly on the proposed amendments in a constitutional assembly; consequentially, the 24-member Senate unanimously rejected the proposal since its vote would be overpowered by the 316-member House.^[1]

Controversy over flood control projects and resignation

Months leading up to the height of the flood control projects controversy in the Philippines in September 2025, media speculation arose regarding a possible leadership change in the lower house, especially after Sarah Discaya implicated Romualdez in the alleged anomalies. By September 6, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin rebuked Congress under Romualdez's speakership, urging the speaker to "clean up your house first". Romualdez, along with his ally and former appropriations chair Zaldy Co, has drawn criticism over alleged involvement in the 2025 General Appropriations Act, which opponents denounce as one of the most flawed and corrupt spending measures ever approved.^[1]

Other ventures

Romualdez is the owner of the newspaper companies Manila Standard and Journal Group of Publications and the mass media firm Philippine Collective Media Corporation.^[1]

Personal life

Romualdez married Yedda Marie Kittilstvedt, who represented the Philippines at Miss International 1996, in civil rites in Hong Kong in November 1999, with a church wedding following at Santuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park, Makati, on February 4, 2001. They have four children and currently live in Tacloban and Makati. Their sons Ferdinand Martin Romualdez Jr., also known as Marty, and Andrew Julian Romualdez are also in politics, having been elected as a councilor of Tacloban and a representative of Tingog Party List in 2025, respectively.^[1]