ANDAYA. FILE PHOTO
Camarines Sur 1st District Rep. Rolando Andaya, Jr. is the new majority leader of the House of Representatives.
During the chamber’s Monday session, Capiz 2nd District Rep. Fredenil Castro moved to elect Andaya as the new majority leader, replacing Ilocos Norte 1st District Rodolfo Fariñas.
The chamber, with 247 members present, approved the motion without any objection. Andaya also automatically became the chair of the House committee on rules.
Andaya, a known ally of Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, was one of the lawmakers who led the coup which resulted to Arroyo’s rise to the speakership last July 23.
READ: While Alvarez was making enemies, Arroyo was consolidating her forces
Aside from Andaya, the chamber also elected Roberto Maling as the new acting secretary general, and Retired Major General Romeo Prestoza as the new sergeant-at-arms.
Arroyo swore in the new officials right after the election.
Sagip Rep. Rodante Marcoleta was later on elected as one of the vice chairmen of the rules committee, replacing Pampanga 4th District Juan Pablo Bondoc.
Leyte 1st District Rep. Yedda Romualdez was also elected as chair of the committee on accounts, replacing Batangas 1st District Rep. Elenita Ermita-Buhain. /je