Sandro Marcos: From first-term lawmaker to House majority leader

House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos —Photo from his Facebook account MANILA, Philippines — Sandro Marcos’ rise in the House of Representatives has been relatively quick. In 2022, he entered Congress as a first-term representative of Ilocos Norte’s first district. By the opening of the 20th Congress three years later, he had become House majority leader, one of the chamber’s key positions. But his experience in Congress began before he became a lawmaker. Marcos previously worked as a staff member in the office of his uncle, Martin Romualdez, who was then House majority leader. Romualdez later recalled that Marcos spent two years working in his office, describing the period as his congressional training. That experience gave Marcos an introduction to the workings of the House before he entered it as an elected official. Article continues after this advertisement In the 2022 elections, Marcos won the congressional seat for Ilocos Norte’s first district, defeating incumbent representative Ria Fariñas. His victory marked his entry into elected office and the beginning of his congressional career.\ READ: Sandro Marcos takes on bigger role as House majority leader His first position in the House leadership came almost immediately. On July 26, 2022, just after the opening of the 19th Congress, Marcos was elected senior deputy majority leader. He was one of several lawmakers chosen for leadership positions under then-Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” Dalipe. The appointment was notable because Marcos was still a rookie legislator. His position also gave him a role in the Committee on Rules, one of the House’s important committees. The committee deals with matters including the House rules, Order of Business, Calendar of Business, and referral of bills and resolutions. At the time, Marcos acknowledged that his transition from staff member to congressman felt different, while saying he wanted to build on his two years of experience inside the House. During his first term, he became involved in a number of legislative proposals, including measures concerning government programs, economic policy, education, nutrition, and other areas. Article continues after this advertisement One of the most prominent was the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund, which Marcos co-filed with other lawmakers in 2022. The House approved the measure later that year. His first term also placed him in the middle of several high-profile House proceedings, giving him greater visibility beyond his district. House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos —Photo from his Facebook account By the 2025 elections, Marcos secured another term as Ilocos Norte’s first district representative. He then entered the 20th Congress with a considerably larger leadership role. On July 28, 2025, Marcos was unanimously elected House majority leader. The position made him the spokesman of the majority bloc and placed him in charge of directing deliberations on the floor. Article continues after this advertisement He also became chairman of the Committee on Rules. The promotion effectively marked a new stage in his congressional career. As majority leader, Marcos is no longer simply participating in the legislative process. He is now among those helping coordinate the House’s work and move its agenda forward. That has included helping advance administration-backed priority measures. READ: ‘The people should be asking of us’ – Sandro Marcos During the first regular session of the 20th Congress, the House approved 26 of the 52 priority bills identified by LEDAC. Marcos said the chamber would continue working on the remaining measures in the next session. His progression in the House, therefore, has taken place over just a few years: from congressional staffer, to first-term representative, to senior deputy majority leader, and eventually to majority leader. It is a rapid rise, but his current position also comes with greater expectations. As he continues leading the House majority, Marcos’ next challenge is not simply maintaining his place in the chamber’s leadership structure. It is demonstrating how effectively he can use that position to manage the House’s legislative business and help turn its priorities into actual policy. Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful. For a lawmaker who began his career inside the House as a staff member, he now finds himself helping determine how the institution itself moves forward.