MANILA, Philippines — Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez was installed as Speaker of the House of Representatives during the opening of the 19th Congress Session on Monday.
Romualdez, who was the former majority speaker during the 18th Congress, was nominated by his nephew, Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Alexander Marcos.
Romualdez got 282 votes, while four abstained and one voted no. There were also 22 members who failed to vote.
The four who abstained are the three members of the Makabayan bloc — Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas, Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) party-list Rep. France Castro, and Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel — and OFW party-list Rep. Marissa Magsino.
Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman meanwhile voted no.
During the end of the session, the House announced that all who abstained, voted no, and failed to vote will be asked to meet so that a minority floor leader would be voted among them.
The installation of Romualdez as House Speaker has been expected by many observers in Congress, as he earned the support of lawmakers from his own party, Lakas-CMD, and other political groups like the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).
READ: Lakas-CMD endorses Romualdez for House speakership
He also got the backing of key officials from the House, like former speakers Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
READ: Arroyo endorses Romualdez as Speaker of 19th Congress
Rumors of Romualdez being installed as Speaker however did not start just recently; during the 18th Congress, the Leyte lawmaker was part of talks about a term-sharing agreement with him and former Speakers Cayetano and Velasco.
Romualdez eventually gave way, settling for the majority Speaker post as a meeting held between the three speakership bets and former President Rodrigo Duterte resulted in the so-called 15-21 agreement — where Cayetano held the post for the first 15 months and then Velasco the remaining 21 months of the 18th Congress.
READ: Salceda: Romualdez to follow Duterte decision on House leadership