House elects two more Deputy Speakers

The Batasang Pambansa facade (Photo from the Facebook account of the House of Representatives)

MANILA, Philippines — Two more lawmakers have been elected to the second-highest post in the House of Representatives.

Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. and Cebu 5th District Rep. Vincent Franco Frasco were nominated as House Deputy Speakers during Wednesday’s session.

No one objected to the motion, thus effectively installing them to the post.

Speaker Martin Romualdez subsequently led the oath-taking of Gonzales and Frasco.

During the oath-taking, Frasco was accompanied by his wife, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, and his mother-in-law Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia.

Deputy Speakers are the second-highest ranking officials in the House of Representatives. In the absence of the Speaker, one of them will preside over the lower chamber of Congress.

So far, the House has elected the following Deputy Speakers:

• Former President and Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
• Davao 3rd District Rep. Isidro Ungab
• Antipolo City 1st District Roberto Puno
• Ilocos Sur 2nd District Rep. Kristine Singson-Meehan
• Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar
• TUCP party-list Rep. Raymund Mendoza
• Batangas 6th district Rep. Ralph Recto

So far, the House of Representatives has picked nine Deputy Speakers with the election of Gonzales and Frasco to the post.

KGA