Former President and returning Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo personally relays support to the speakership of House Majority Leader and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin G. Romualdez during a lunch meeting in San Juan City restaurant. Mrs. Arroyo is Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) President Emeritus and Romualdez is Lakas-CMD President. Also with them is Pampanga Vice Governor Lilia “Nanay Baby” Pineda. (Photo courtesy of Lakas-CMD)
Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has personally conveyed to House Majority Leader and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin G. Romualdez her support for his bid to become Speaker in the incoming 19th Congress.
The two met in a San Juan City restaurant on Wednesday to discuss challenges Congress and the nation in general would face in the years ahead.
Romualdez thanked the returning Pampanga represenntative for her “words of support and encouragement.”
“Thank you ma’am. Coming from our President Emeritus in Lakas-CMD, it means a lot to me,” said Romualdez, who is also Lakas-CMD president.
Romualdez said he was counting on the former president for advice in leading the House of Representatives.
Arroyo support followed a similar pronouncement from incumbent Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, boosting support from major political groups in the larger chamber of Congress, including Romualdez’s own party.
“Majority Leader Martin Romualdez and I have been working together for decades in a joint effort to do our best to serve the Filipino people. Since 2010, our partnership involved our service as fellow members of the House of Representatives,” said Arroyo in a statement to the media last Saturday.
“I will be returning to the House on June 30, 2022. I would therefore like to advise the members of the Lakas-CMD that 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.”
Arroyo also served as Speaker in the previous 17th Congress.