House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez (FILE PHOTO)
Updated
MANILA, Philippines — The Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) has formally endorsed its party president, House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, for the post of House Speaker in the 19th Congress.
On Monday, Lakas-CMD issued Resolution No. 05, series of 2022, to officially support the bid of Romualdez to lead the House of Representatives as Speaker.
Romualdez, representative of Leyte’s first district, is also the first cousin of presumptive President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“In order to be an effective partner in passing much needed legislation, the House of Representatives must be under the leadership of a strong leader. Lakas-CMD believes that its president, Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, can lead the House of Representatives into being an effective partner of the incoming administration,” the party’s resolution read.
Lakas-CMD cochairs Sara Duterte and Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. led party officials in signing the resolution in support of Romualdez’s bid for the post of House Speaker.
Arroyo endorsement
Duterte is the outgoing mayor of Davao City and the daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte. She is also the presumptive vice president and running-mate of Marcos.
The resolution was issued following an appeal from former president and Lakas-CMD president emeritus Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) for the party to support Romualdez’s bid.
A former House speaker herself, Macapagal-Arroyo won as Pampanga Second District representative in the May 9 elections.
“With the conclusion of the May 9, 2022, national and local elections, there is a need to set aside politics and work together for economic recovery brought on by the pandemic,” the Lakas-CMD resolution stressed.
Other parties backing Romualdez are Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan, National Unity Party, Nacionalista Party, Liberal Party, Party-list Coalition Foundation Inc., Hugpong ng Pagbabago, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, Nationalist People’s Coalition, etc.
Signatories of the resolution were Quezon Gov. Danilo Suarez, vice chairman; Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo, executive vice president; Rep. Wilter Palma, deputy secretary general; Rep. Hector Sanchez, vice president for Luzon; Rep. Christian Unabia, VP for Mindanao; Rep. Yasser Alonto Balindong, VP for Muslim affairs; Rep. Fredenil Castro, vice chairman; Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr., secretary general;
Rep. Aleta Suarez, treasurer; Rep. Paz Radaza, VP for Visayas; Gov. Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr., VP for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao; Public Works and Highways Secretary Roger Mercado, VP for external affairs; retired Gen. Romeo Prestoza, VP for internal affairs; Rep. Juan Fidel Felipe Nograles, spokesperson; Rep. Ma. Lourdes Arroyo, VP for social services;
Rep. Gerardo Espina Jr., VP for Visayas development concerns; Rep. Samantha Louise Alfonso, VP for overseas workers affairs; Rep. Onyx Crisologo, VP for Metro Manila development; Rep. Geraldine Roman, spokesperson; Rep. Christopher de Venecia, VP for youth affairs; Rep. Princess Rihan Sakaluran, VP for tourism affairs;
Rep. Leonardo Babasa Jr., VP for disaster resilience; Rep. Allan Ecleo, VP for agriculture and fisheries; Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe, VP for Mindanao development concerns; Rep. Lorna Bandigan, VP for basic education; Rep. Manuel Zamora, VP for senior citizen concerns; Rep. Sandra Eriguel, VP for health services; Rep. Tonypet Albano, VP for agriculture and food; and Rep. Luisa Cuaresma, VP for local government concerns.
It may be recalled that in July 2019, Romualdez was prevailed upon by Mr. Duterte to withdraw his bid for the post of House Speaker.
President Duterte then helped broker a term-sharing deal between Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano, who would serve as House Speaker for 15 months, before turning over the post to Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, who would serve for 21 months until the adjournment of the 18th Congress.
Romualdez was then named as House majority leader, a key post that he would keep under the term-sharing deal.
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