Nine of the 11 representatives from the Negros Island Region (NIR) have declared support for House Speaker Martin Romualdez on Monday, September 25, signaling strong backing from the newly created region’s lawmakers.
From Negros Occidental, those who signed the manifesto were representatives Julio A. Ledesma IV (1st District), Alfredo Marañon III (2nd District), Jeffrey Ferrer (4th District), and Emilio Bernardino L. Yulo (5th District).
6th District Representative Mercedes Alvarez, despite not signing the manifesto, declared her support for the leadership of the Speaker.
Negros Oriental representatives Emmanuel L. Iway (1st District), Ma. Isabel Sagarbarria (2nd District), and Janice Degamo (3rd District) also signed, along with Siquijor representative Zaldy Villa.
The manifesto described Romualdez as a steady hand capable of ensuring that the NIR’s concerns are heard in national policy discussions.
It stressed the need for consistent leadership to transform the NIR law into actual benefits, citing infrastructure development, stronger local governance, and broader opportunities across Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor.
Left out of the bloc were Bacolod Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and his son, Negros Occidental 3rd District Representative Javier Miguel Benitez.
The elder Benitez, floated as a possible contender for the speakership, openly distanced himself from the manifesto and instead urged Romualdez to resign.
Benitez pointed to controversies involving “ghost projects,” substandard construction, and alleged contractor kickbacks linked to the Department of Public Works and Highways.
He also noted disclosures in Senate hearings—including the testimony of Navotas Representative Toby Tiangco—that fueled perceptions of an alleged House cover-up.
According to Benitez, these issues have eroded the credibility of the chamber, and only Romualdez’s resignation could restore public trust.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, maintains a personal blog on Medium, and is the communications officer of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island.