Claim: Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte has replaced current House Speaker Martin Romualdez as speaker.
Rating: FALSE
Why we fact-checked this: As of writing, the YouTube video has garnered 112,403 views, 6,900 likes, and 674 comments. The video was posted on May 24 by the YouTube channel, “PINAS NEWS INSIDER,” currently has 1.18 subscribers.
The video’s title reads, “Malaking good news ‘to! Yari si Tamba papalitan na ni Pulong House Speaker? Gloria Kamara Bumaligtad?” (Good news! House Speaker Romualdez to be replaced by Paulo Duterte? Gloria bloc in House flipped?)
The video’s thumbnail includes the text, “House Speaker na? Pulong Duterte kumpirmado na? Tamba legwak na?” (Next House Speaker? Pulong Duterte as new speaker confirmed? Romualdez out?)
The video refers to Romualdez as “Tamba,” a shortened version of tambaloslos, which Vice President Sara Duterte once used to indirectly describe the Speaker. It is a Visayan pejorative, referring to a greedy and large-mouthed creature.
The facts: Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez is still Speaker of the House of Representatives. On May 25, 278 representatives from the House signed a manifesto expressing support for the Speaker. The video falsely claims that Paolo Duterte had secured the speakership, only citing news of Vice President Sara Duterte asking her brother to try for the speakership in the incoming 20th Congress.
Talks of a change in the House leadership emerged, following Navotas Representative Toby Tiangco’s media blitz following the 2025 midterm elections wherein he expressed openness to becoming speaker. Tiangco also served as campaign manager for the administration’s Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas Senate slate.
Paolo Duterte previously expressed interest in the speakership in July 2019, after then-Taguig City-Pateros Representative Alan Peter Cayetano suggested “term sharing” between him and the son of then-president Rodrigo Duterte.
Pulong Duterte: Paolo Duterte is on his third and final term as Davao City 1st District Representative after winning against PBA representative Margarita “Migs” Nograles Almario.
Duterte faces a criminal complaint filed with the Department of Justice by businessman Kristone John Patria. The complaint was based on Duterte allegedly assaulting and threatening Patria in a bar in Davao City last February 23.
The former president’s son also faces a drug smuggling complaint alongside his sister’s husband, Mans Carpio filed by former senator Antonio Trillanes IV last July 2024.
The Duterte family is currently facing multiple cases, with the family patriarch, Rodrigo Duterte, facing alleged crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court for his administration’s bloody war on drugs, and Paolo’s sister, Vice President Sara Duterte, facing an impeachment trial for alleged graft and violation of the constitution, among other charges.
Previous fact-checks: Rappler has already fact-checked claims regarding the Duterte family.
- FACT CHECK: Duterte’s ICC case is ongoing, no ruling on release
- FACT CHECK: Photo of Duterte ‘CD statue’ is AI-generated
- FACT CHECK: Duterte still in ICC custody, not back in Philippines
– Ramon Franco Verano/Rappler.com
Ramon Franco Verano is a graduate of Rappler’s volunteer program. He is a fourth year History student at the University of Santo Tomas. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.
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