House elects officials for 18th Congress

MANILA, Philippines — Members of the House of Representatives on Monday welcomed the 18th Congress with a new set of officials.

During the lower chamber’s first regular session for the 18th Congress, members of the House elected Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez as the Majority Leader.

Romualdez had earlier thrown his hat into the speakership race.

However, President Rodrigo Duterte endorsed his 2016 vice presidential running mate Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano as the next House Speaker, who Duterte suggested would share the three-year term with Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco.

READ: House obeys Duterte, elects Cayetano as Speaker

Cayetano clinched the lower chamber’s top post after he garnered 266 votes from his colleagues during the Congress election ahead of the President’s fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Ako Bicol Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr., a member of the Minority, said they would formally elect Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. as their leader on Tuesday.

The following House members were also elected during the opening of the 18th Congress:

Deputy Speakers:

– Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte

– South Cotabato 2nd District Rep. Ferdinand Hernandez

– Sorsogon 1st District Rep. Evelina Escudero, 

– Antique Rep. Loren Legarda

– ABONO Party-list Rep. Conrad Estrella III

– Surigao del Sur 1st District Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr.

– Antipolo Rep. Roberto Puno

– Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption (Cibac) party-list Rep. Eduardo Villanueva

– Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr.

– Surigao del Sur 2nd District Rep. Johnny Pimentel

– Camarines Sur 2nd District Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr.

House Committee on Accounts: 

– Cavite 7th District Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino

House Committee on Appropriations:

– Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab

House Secretary-General:

– Atty. Jose Luis Montales

House Sergeant-at-arms:

– Gen. Ramon Apolinario

More House officials are expected to be elected in different positions, including committee chairmanships, in the coming days. /je