PDP-Laban divided on speakership race; Salceda says sanctions ‘unjustified’

MANILA, Philippines — The House speakership race seems to have divided even the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) as even President Rodrigo Duterte has yet to announce his bet for the position.

Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda, a PDP-Laban member, on Wednesday warned that any sanctions by the ruling party against members who would defy the party’s choice on the speakership would be “unjustified,” and “may only incur unwanted consequences.”

PDP-Laban earlier backed the speakership bid of Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco. Party spokesperson Ron Munsayac said members who would defy the group’s choice would be slapped with sanctions.

READ: PDP-Laban endorses Velasco as 18th Congress House Speaker

“The PDP Laban Leadership led by Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III believes that it’s time to put emphasis and value to party discipline… As a political party, we will move and act as one,” Munsayac added.

But this warning did not sit well with Salceda who is supporting the speakership bid of Leyte Representative-elect Martin Romualdez. He warned that one consequence could be a reduced representation of the party in the Commission on Appointments.

“Any threats or sanctions are unjustified and may only incur the unwanted consequence of a reduced representation in the Commission on Appointments, which is similarly critical to the party,” Salceda, outgoing House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s point man on economic-related issues, said in an interview at a hotel in Quezon City.

“But I think at the end of the day, all [members of] PDP-Laban will vote as one. All these threats are baseless and lastly, there is no consultation,” the district representative added.

Meanwhile, Zamboanga Sibugay 1st District Rep. Wilter Palma II, another PDP-Laban member who attended the Wednesday caucus called by Romualdez, said they were just there to hear out the latter’s plan and to express their willingness to help him.

“Nandito kami para mapakinggan po kung ano man ang adhikain ng isa sa kumakandidato for Speaker… We are here also to express our support and our inclination na sana po ay matulungan po natin ang ating kagalang-galang na kongresista, congressman Martin Romualdez,” he said.

Salceda said 40 PDP-Laban lawmakers are backing Romualdez, a member of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD). PDP-Laban has 84 members in the House.

The 54-man party-list coalition is also divided on the speakership issue, with Anak Kalusugan Representative-elect Mike Defensor saying two-thirds of the members are supporting Romualdez. This is contrary to the position of their leader 1-Pacman Rep. Michael Romero to endorse Velasco.

House members are set to elect the next Speaker at the opening of the 18th Congress on July 22. (Editor: Eden Estopace)

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