PDP-Laban confident of regaining House Speakership

MANILA, Philippines — The ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) on Wednesday expressed optimism that it can regain the House leadership after the May 13 polls.

In a statement, the ruling party said ousted Speaker Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez and Marinduque Rep. Allan Lord Velasco were among the frontrunners for the Speakership post, which is set to be vacated by former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The party attributed its forecast of the PDP-Laban dominating the lower chamber to the strong support of Duterte, the party’s chairman, and the stewardship of its President, Sen. Koko Pimentel, and national campaign manager Sen. Manny Pacquiao.

The PDP-Laban noted that it is fielding more than 130 party members, all of whom are vying for reelections in the House of Representatives.

“PDP-Laban is the defending champion in the House of Representatives, and we have all-star candidates for the post of the Speaker, to mention, Lord Allan Velasco (Marinduque), Ronald Zamora (San Juan), Alex Advincula and Bambol Tolentino (Cavite), Ricky Sandoval (Malabon), Dong Gonzales (Pampanga), Lucy Torres (Leyte), and Dinanad Hernandez (South Cotabato),” PDP-Laban Public Information Committee chair Ron Munsayac said.

Alvarez was booted out of the House speakership in favor of Arroyo before Duterte delivered his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 2018. /ee

READ: Backed by 184 lawmakers, Gloria Arroyo takes oath as Speaker