House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez announced his resignation from the speakership today in a dramatic turn in the escalating scandal over ghost flood control projects that has rocked the nation's trust in government infrastructure spending.

In a press conference at the Batasang Pambansa, Romualdez confirmed he would step down from his leadership position, though he emphasized he would remain in Congress as Leyte's 1st District representative to "face all allegations head-on."

"I am resigning as Speaker to protect the integrity and reputation of the House of Representatives," Romualdez stated. 

"This institution is bigger than any individual, and it should not be tainted by controversies that can be addressed through proper channels."

The resignation comes after explosive revelations that billions of pesos allocated for flood control projects exist only on paper—so-called "ghost projects" that were funded but never built, which left communities vulnerable to flooding while funds disappeared into private pockets.

New leadership takes helm

Romualdez endorsed Deputy Speaker Faustino "Bojie" Dy III of Isabela as his replacement and described him as "a leader of unquestionable integrity who can guide the House through these challenging times." 

Dy, a veteran legislator in his third term, has notably stayed clear of the ghost project controversy and has been vocal about reforming government procurement and monitoring systems.

The House swiftly elected Dy as the new Speaker during a session on Wednesday afternoon, just hours after Romualdez's resignation. 

Dy secured an overwhelming mandate through a nominal vote, with 253 lawmakers supporting him, none voting against, and 28 abstaining. Under House rules, those who abstained will now form part of the minority bloc.

In his acceptance speech, Dy promised immediate reforms and full cooperation with all investigating bodies. "The people's trust has been shattered. We must rebuild it brick by brick, with transparency and accountability as our foundation," the new Speaker declared. 

It remains unclear whether there will be changes to other House leadership positions, from deputy speakers to committee chairmanships.

Fake projects exposed

Investigations uncovered a massive fraud scheme where contractors, local officials, and engineers worked together to fake entire flood control projects. They recycled photos from real projects in other areas and created fake inspection reports. Some engineers admitted they signed documents for sites they never even visited.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has suspended 12 district engineers while investigations continue. The Professional Regulation Commission is now reviewing the licenses of engineers who approved these fake projects. Several contractors involved have reportedly fled the country to avoid prosecution.

While Romualdez hasn't been formally charged, critics point to his leadership role during the period when these ghost projects proliferated and question the lack of oversight mechanisms that allowed such widespread fraud to occur unchecked.

The fight for real justice

The resignation is not the end of the story. Analysts note moves like this are often seen as a way to calm public anger and protect the administration. Resignation is no substitute for justice. It does not return the money, punish the guilty, or repair a broken system.

Real justice means independent investigations, full recovery of stolen funds, prison without VIP perks, and lifetime bans from politics for those proven guilty in court. Anything less is just a show. Filipinos deserve accountability that truly delivers change.

The ghost projects represent more than stolen money - they're broken promises to communities that needed protection. 

With new House leadership in place, the question remains whether this anomaly will finally break the corruption cycle or become another case of politicians protecting their own.

Filipinos, especially those still vulnerable to floods because of non-existent projects, are watching and waiting for genuine justice, not a political show.

‍