After garnering 253 votes, Isabela 6th District Rep. Faustino “Bodjie” Dy III formally took his oath as the new Speaker of the House of Representatives.
His election followed the resignation of Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez, who stepped down to avoid influencing the investigation against him by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).
In his first speech as Speaker, Dy vowed to restore public trust in the House of Representatives under his leadership.
He made it clear that he would not defend lawmakers proven guilty of corruption.
“Under my leadership, this House will change. I will not defend the guilty. I will not shield the corrupt. Gaya ng paninindigan ng ating Pangulo—no rank, no ally, no office will be spared from accountability,” Dy declared.
He added: “We must strengthen the Oversight Committee and fully cooperate with the Independent Commission of Infrastructure. Our duty is not to protect each other – our duty is to protect the Filipino people.”
Dy also urged his colleagues to join him in his mission to rebuild the public’s trust in Congress, acknowledging that it has been eroded by controversies surrounding anomalous flood control projects and questionable insertions in the 2025 national budget.
“Sa tulong ninyo, sisiguraduhin din natin na ang bawat sentimo na paglalaanan ng badyet sa bawat departamento ay tutugma sa pangangailangan ng mamamayang Pilipino,” Dy said.
Dy comes from a long-entrenched political clan in Isabela. He first served as KB Federation Chairperson and President of the Association of Barangay Captains before becoming vice mayor and later mayor of Cauayan, Isabela.
He represented the province’s 3rd District in Congress from 2001 to 2010, before serving as Isabela governor from 2010 to 2019. He later became vice governor from 2019 to 2025, before returning to the House as representative of the newly created 6th District.
Dy himself is no stranger to controversy. In 2022, he faced plunder charges over allegedly anomalous road projects in Isabela worth ₱1.3 billion. The case remains unresolved to this day.