Romualdez still considers VP Duterte as his friend 

House Speaker Martin Romualdez (left), Vice President Sara Duterte (Speaker’s office)

House Speaker Martin Romualdez says he still considers Vice President Sara Duterte as his friend.

This, despite the apparent falling out between the two high-ranking elected officials earlier this year.

Asked in a television interview Tuesday, Dec. 19, if he and VP Duterte were still friends, Romualdez said, “I look at her as a friend and as my Vice President and as a secretary of education and yes, yes I do.”

“I respect the vice president and also the secretary of education I respect her as a person and the office I still hold her in high regard,” the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) president said.

When asked if they still spoke with each other, Romualdez admitted, “Not as often anymore.”

Romualdez and VP Duterte were former party-mates at Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD). However, the latter left the party earlier this year amid a squabble in the House leadership involving Pampanga 2nd district Rep. and former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The perception is that the relationship between Romualdez and VP Duterte further soured over the decision of the House to realign in the 2024 national budget the confidential funds of civilian agencies to agencies that have a direct hand in protecting the country’s assets in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

The realignment led to the stripping of P650 million worth of confidential funds meant for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and Department of Education (DepEd) next year.

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https://mb.com.ph/2023/12/17/romualdez-reacts-to-funny-interaction-with-vp-duterte-super-fan

At any rate, the Speaker belied the claim that he and the Vice President have become “enemies”.

“Hindi naman magkaaway (We’re not enemies). Obviously si VP Sara very busy now as the Vice President and secretary of DepEd, ako po naman dito sa lehislatura (as for me in the legislature) as Speaker of the House of Representatives we are busy…with all the priority legislative measures,” he said.

Romualdez was one of then-Davao City Mayor Duterte’s campaign managers during the May 2022 polls.