Martin Romualdez

Ferdinand Martin Gomez Romualdez Sr. (Tagalog pronunciation: [ˈgɔmɛs ɾoˈmwɐldɛs], born November 14, 1963) is a Filipino businessman, lawyer, and politician 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. He was previously the House Majority Leader from 2019 to 2022. He is a first cousin of President Bongbong Marcos. Born to the fourth generation of the Romualdez family of Tacloban City, Leyte Province, he graduated from Cornell University in the United States and pursued legal studies at the University of the Philippines College of Law, being admitted to the bar in 1993. Romualdez entered government in 2007 after being elected to the House of Representatives, being reelected in 2010 and 2013. Upon being term-limited as a representative in 2016, he sought a seat in the Senate and lost. Romualdez was elected back to the lower chamber in 2019. During his second tenure, he managed the successful vice presidential campaign of Sara Duterte. He was elected as speaker in 2022. During his speakership, Romualdez played a key role in the Marcos–Duterte rift and pursued constitutional reforms that were marred by irregularities.