House party-list bloc will still obey Duterte, Sara’s order on speakership

MANILA, Philippines — After its show of force and unity, the House party-list coalition conceded Tuesday that it would still follow the order of President Rodrigo Duterte or Davao Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio on who to choose as next leader of the lower chamber.

“Of course pagka ang Presidente may pinili, napakahirap naman to go against, ‘yan ang reality nyan,” 1-Pacman Rep. Michael Romero, president of the coalition in the coming 18th Congress, said when asked if they would change their bet once the Chief Executive endorsed a different contender.

“This is a numbers game, this is the House of Representatives, kung anong piliin ng Presidente tingin ko naman ‘yan ang mapipili rin dito, so we will abide,” he added.

Aambis-Owa Rep. Sharon Garin also admitted the presidential daughter’s opinion is “vital in the equation.”

Romero even said they “need to consult with her.”

Romero and Garin’s statements came after the House party-list coalition assembled in what could be a show of force that their 54-member alliance is “a force to reckon with.”

“I just want to show, because people are saying that we are a divided group… We just want to say that we are a very, very strong and organized group at this point,” Romero said before he introduced around 15 of the coalition’s members.

The richest House member maintained the coalition would vote as one when election of new Speaker comes at the opening of the 18th Congress on July 22.

Garin said the party-list alliance would not settle for less than the 20 percent of committee chairmanships in the lower chamber, adding that party-lists call for “proper recognition” at the House.

Among lawmakers aspiring to become Speaker were Marinduque Rep. Lord Velasco from the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano from Nacionalista Party, and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez from Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats. All three wooed members of the coalition during their get-together last May 23.

READ: Velasco, Cayetano, Romualdez seeking party-list coalition’s vote

Bagong Henerasyon Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy said Velasco, Cayetano, and Romualdez have so far committed to treating the party-list representatives with “respect and equality.”

Another contender for speakership, Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. from PDP-Laban, also met with the party-list coalition on Tuesday.

Former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez was supposed to meet the alliance also on Tuesday but he told INQUIRER.net that the “confirmation was late” and that he was still in Davao del Norte. He further said he could not get a plane ticket to Manila.

Nevertheless, Alvarez said he will still schedule a meeting with the party-list bloc but Romero said Tuesday is the last day they would meet candidates for the speakership race.

The party-list alliance said they would decide on which candidate they would support as next Speaker after two weeks. (Editor: Katherine G. Adraneda)