House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez won the Leyte congressional position and was proclaimed on Tuesday after running unopposed in the 2025 midterm elections.
Winning with 177,485 votes, Romualdez won the position in the 1st District of Leyte, which consists of Tacloban City and the towns of Alangalang, Babatngon, Palo, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Tanauan, and Tolosa. This is based on partial, unofficial results from the Commission on Elections, and this win marked his final term in Congress.
“I am thankful to my fellow Leyte residents from the first district, especially those from Tacloban City, for the new chance to serve,” Romualdez said in gratitude.
“This victory is not only mine, but the victory of each district, of each Waray family who continues to trust our brand of leadership. With your help, the voice of Leyte in Congress would be stronger and louder. We will be able to do more and help more,” he added.
After his proclamation, he promised to strengthen the efforts of the House in the upcoming 20th Congress.
“We will be doing much more. We will build on the gains of the 19th Congress. I assure you that the House will be more productive. We will work harder to make sure that the needs of the Filipino people are met,” he said.
When questioned whether he was confident in retaining his speakership, he said that he was unsure but would still do his best in his post.
“Alam mo naman sa start of the 20th Congress, we will reorganize the House, but I am still ready to serve,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections has also proclaimed Alfred Romualdez, first cousin of the House Speaker, as the re-elected mayor of Tacloban City.
His son, Raymund Romualdez, secured the position of vice mayor, marking their family’s continued leadership in the city.
Meanwhile, the Tingog party list, whose first nominee is Andrew Julian Romualdez, son of Speaker Martin Romualdez and outgoing Representative Yedda Romualdez, garnered 66,328 votes in Tacloban City alone.