Visayan bloc to vote as one in speakership race

MANILA, Philippines – The 43-strong Visayan bloc in the House of Representatives will vote as one in the 18th Congress’ speakership race, bloc leader and Negros Occidental 3rd District Rep. Alfredo “Albee” Benitez said Wednesday.

Benitez, whose third and last term will expire on June 30, said such was the consensus among lawmakers from the Visayas region in a meeting Tuesday night.

“We will reconvene pa sa (in) July to make the announcement,” he said in a text message to INQUIRER.net.

Although Benitez is an outgoing House member, he will be succeeded by his brother, Francisco.

Asked if the group would support a contender from President Rodrigo Duterte’s ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) party or a candidate from the Visayan region, Benitez said the bloc agreed that their choice would “depend on the bloc’s preference.”

Benitez is also a PDP-Laban member.

Of the five confirmed aspirants for speaker, only incoming Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez is from the Visayas and is a member of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats party.

Meanwhile, PDP-Laban is fielding former speaker and Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, Marinduque Rep. Lord Alan Velasco and Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr. for the top House post.

The ruling party won 80 seats in the next Congress, party president Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III said.

Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano of the Nacionalista Party (NP) is also joining the speakership race.

The NP and National Unity Party are supporting his bid.

READ: National Unity Party backs Cayetano’s speakership bid

The 54-member party-list coalition, led by reelected 1-Pacman Rep. Michael Romero, is considered to be the next biggest bloc in the chamber.

It has yet to name its preferred candidate for speaker.

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

While outgoing Minority Leader and Quezon 3rd District Rep. Danilo Suarez said Romualdez already has the support of more than 153 congressmen across political parties, Velasco earlier said he has the “trust and confidence” of the President and Davao Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

The candidates for speaker are known allies of the present administration and have vowed to pursue the President’s legislative agenda in the next Congress, which would be dominated by a “supermajority” of pro-administration lawmakers.

READ: LP sees same ‘tyranny of majority’ in next Congress

The next speaker will be elected when the18th Congress opens on July 22. (Editor: Gilbert S. Gaviola)