Short link: https://wp.me/paaccn-PSO
- EDD K. USMAN | X (Twitter): @edd1819 | Instagram: @bluestar0910 |Facebook: SDN – SciTech & Digital News
QUEZON MEMORIAL CIRCLE, Quezon City, June 20, 2025 (SDN) — A new movement dubbed the “Kongreso ng Bayan” (People’s Congress) on Thursday, June 19, called on embattled Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez to resign and step down as leader of the House of Representatives.
The multi-sectoral Kongreso ng Bayan cited various issues they pinned on the House leader, chief of them the impeachment of Vice President Inday Sara Duterte, as well as alleged corruption, lack of action on the situation of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East torn apart by Israel’s so-called “genocidal” attacks on Palestinian civilians, killing thousands of infants, babies, children, women, and its unprovoked a la Nazi blitzkrieg on the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Comprising Kongreso ng Bayan are representatives of sectors such as the religious, Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and Moros, lawyers, retired officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippines National Police (PNP), businessmen, OFWs, transport and others.
Leaders of the movement held a press conference here attended around 30 print, TV, radio, and online reporters and bloggers as the panelist fielded various questions.
Apparently, Kongreso ng Bayan is a pro-Duterte alliance as they displayed streamers calling for the return home of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte who is in the the Netherlands facing a case owing to his drug war.
Many of the Kongreso ng Bayan had been supporters of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., but they withdrew their support apparently because of many issues affecting Filipinos.
On the request of the media in attendance, the movement’s leaders stood up, with a thumbs down sign and shouted “Resign, Speaker Martin Romualdez, Resign, Resign, Resign, Resign, Resign”. Some of them even raised the idea of physically uprooting the House leader from his office.
Among those present in the media briefing are:
Panelists:
• ATTY. VIRGIL GARCIA AFP General (ret)
• CHITO B. BALINTAY, National Chairman, Alyansa ng Katutubong Ayta ng Pilipinas, Inc.
• PAYLOT CABALIC, Chairman Zambales Chapter, Alyansa ng Katutubong Ayta ng Pilipinas, Inc.
• JASON C. DOLFO, Vice Chairman, Kilusang Pinatubo Botolan Zambales
• COL. SEGUNDO METRAN JR., PA (ret), Founder and Supremo, Filipino Guirella Forces (FGF)
• ENGR. MANNY MACARIO, Former 1980’s Original Marcos Loyalist and President, Many Family Lives Under Growth (MFLUG)
•EMMANUEL C. VIRTUCIO, Former Brgy. Chairman, Davao City, and Former Chairman, Office of Transport Cooperative (OTC-DOTR)
• SAMUEL B. RAMOS, Regional Chairman, Manila Taxi and Regional Association (MANTRA) & National Director, National Public Transport Coalition (NPTC)
• DIEGO MAGPANTAY, National President, Citizens Crime Watch (CCW)
• ATTY MELCHOR MAGDAMO, Lawyer, United Peoples Initiative (UPI)
• PCOL JONATHAN GALANG RET (ret), Filipino Guerella Forces (FGF)
First to take the microphone was retiredn police officer Galang, who was emotional, raising his voice to a crescendo.
“We are calling (for) the resignation of House Speaker Martin Romualdez,” he screams in a booming voice. “Resign, Speaker Martin Romualdez, now na!”
He claimed the House no longer has an effective leader, that in his personal opinion “it’s now the time for Speaker Romualdez to step aside,” and turn over the leadership of the Lower House to another more deserving and effective congressman.
Watch the call: https://youtu.be/fgozfpQneyM?si=n4DDLCEi2t5u0LAX
Galang said they conducted the press conference to present the real situation in the nation and open eyes of Filipinos and what they can do, starting with calling on their respective congressman.
Kongreso ng Bayan’s lawyer Virgil Garcia, retired AFP general, he claimed that the President had “betrayed the trust of the public” when he ordered the arrest of his predecessor, who is now detained by the United Nations International Criminal Court (ICC), in The Hague, the Netherlands.
On the other hand, the former AFP officer also revealed that they filed a case versus Romualdez at the Office of the Ombudsman which is now pending for alleged falsification of legislative documents, citing a case filed by losing Senate candidate lawyer Vic Rodriguez.
“Sana mapukaw namin ang natutulog ninyong damdamin. Nararapat bang manatili is Speaker Romualdez o dapat ng palitan. Kami po ay nagsisimula lamang at nasa inyo ang susunod na hakbang,” emphasizes Garcia. (We hope can get your sleeping heart. Does Speaker Romualdez deserve to stay or it is time to replace him. We are just starting (this movement), the next step lies in your hands.)
“The people truly do not want political dynasty. Every one of our representatives (in Congress) that the people no longer want Speaker Romualdez.
When asked why they are not calling for the resignation of Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Garcia indicated that the Bicol Region leader is doing his job as presiding officer of the Senate Impeachment Court.
Balintay, national chairman of the IPs’ alliance, discussed the dire situation of IPs. “We live in hand-to-mouth existence” because members of the IPs are not educated, thus they could easily be fooled.
Call of Kongreso is for the people, the nation
He cited the case of the government “ayuda” (assistance) of Php5,000 each person but IPs are receiving only P2,000 even if they signed documents for Php5,000, indicating that those who distribute the “ayuda” are slicing it and getting the rest.
“If this happens in Japan, those who steal from the people commit ‘hara-kiri’ (suicide) out of shame and delicadeza.
“In my view, there is no more reason for Speaker Martin Romualdez to remain (as leader of the House),” Balintay says.
Retired Philippine Army (PA) Col. Segundo Metran, Jr. slammed Romualdez with a series of unprintables, saying if congressmen still make him the House speaker, “lahat tayo gago” (we are all idiots.
“Now, our government stills politicking because they want to remove the Dutertes (from power),” Metran notes, calling Romualdez to spare his family from embarrassment.
On the other hand, the former military officer discounted the use of arms in fighting government. It is People’s Initiative. We will boot out Speaker Romualdez from his seat. That’s what we should do.”
Metran adds: “Ginagago na ang Pilipino. Walanghiyaan na kung hindi siya magbibitiw.” (The Filipino is being taken for a ride. It’s a shame if he does not resign.)
Metran also revealed a case is being prepared against Chairman George Erwin Garcia of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the plans to mount a People’s Initiative.
He then urged Filipinos to confront and fight corruption and fight communism, saying that corruption is the reason that communism thrives as the rallying cry of communists.
Samuel B. Ramos, an official of MANTRA and NPTC, both in the transport sector, claimed the government’s public transport modernization program does not benefit the transport industry.
Ramos from Davao City raised the idea of planning for a nationwide transport strike through a mass protest and caravan for a protest action. He alleged that Romualdez controls the transport sector without presenting proof.
“The NCAP should be reconsidered,” he adds, referring to the No Contact Apprehension Policy of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) now being enforced in the National Capital Region (NCR).
“We are not going to stop until Speaker Martin Romualdez steps down from,” Ramos asserts.
Ferdinand Reyes of DuterTeam, a former OFW, reiterated claims that congressmen received Php150 million to sign the impeachment case of VP Duterte. He screams, “Speaker Martin Romualdez, resign now!”
On the part of the civil society, Citizens Crime Watch (CCW) National President Diego Magpantay hit congressmen’s dipping their hands on the distribution of “ayuda”, prompting him to declare the 19th Congres as “the most corrupt”.
At least one of the Kongreso ng Bayan allies frowned on the call for the House leader to step down, while admitting it is time for its leadership to change.
“Our call is for the people and the nation. About time Speaker Romualdez steps down,” Reyes clarifies. (/)