FUTURE SPEAKER House majority leader Martin Romualdez and his nephew, Ilocos Norte Rep.-elect Sandro Marcos attend a lunch meeting in Makati City on Saturday. —GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
MANILA, Philippines — With just over six weeks before the final adjournment of the 18th Congress, Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez appeared poised to become the next Speaker of the House of Representatives.
In the Senate, senators declined to discuss leadership of the chamber in the upcoming 19th Congress, but Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri, Cynthia Villar and Sherwin Gatchalian are supposedly eyeing the Senate presidency.
Four of the six key political blocs in the House have backed Romualdez’ bid and former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, re-elected representative of Pampanga’s first district, has also declared her support.
Macapagal-Arroyo’s support is important because she was chosen Speaker when representatives ousted then Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez during the 17th Congress in 2018, and there was speculation she was again eyeing the position.
Arroyo scotched the speculations on Saturday by releasing a statement.
“I am throwing my support for Majority Leader Martin Romualdez to be elected as House Speaker in the next Congress. I urge all members of our party to do the same,” referring to the Lakas-CMD, of which she is chairperson emeritus.
Aside from Lakas-CMD, several other political blocs also threw their support behind Romualdez, the first cousin of presumptive president Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The Nationalist People’s Coalition, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino and Hugpong ng Pagbabago also backed Romualdez.
“The Nacionalista Party is throwing its full support to Romualdez to become the next House Speaker,” said re-elected Las Pinas Rep. Camille Villar.
Romualdez also got the backing of the Party-list Coalition Foundation Inc. (PCFI), which met at a restaurant in Makati City on Saturday to endorse his bid to lead the House.
Romualdez, his wife Tingog Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez, and his nephew, Ilocos Norte Representative-elect Sandro Marcos—son of the presumptive president—were also present.
Photos released by Lakas-CMD showed the younger Marcos shaking the hand of retired Commission on Elections Commissioner Rowena Guanzon, whose Pamilya, Pasyente, at Persons With Disabilities party list secured a seat.
During the lunch meeting, the 60 lawmakers belonging to the PCFI signed a manifesto of support for Romualdez.
In the Senate, senators were wary of talking about the leadership of the chamber in the upcoming 19th Congress, but reelected Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, majority leader of the current Senate, said on Saturday a supermajority may be possible.
A supermajority in the 24-member Senate needs to have the support of at least 16 senators, which can easily propel any move by its leadership and the agenda of Malacañang.
“We have committed our support to the new administration,” Zubiri said.
Citing the 31 million votes cast for Marcos Jr., Zubiri said the “very large mandate” carries with it a strong need to make his legislative agenda work.
—WITH A REPORT FROM NESTOR CORRALES
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