President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (back to the camera), Speaker Martin Romualdez and Vice President Sara Duterte have a short talk at the end of the program inaugurating Pier 88,
a “smart port” in Liloan, Cebu province recently (PNA PHOTO)
MANILA, Philippines — Several members of the House of Representatives rushed to show their support for House Speaker Martin Romualdez amid remarks from Vice President Sara Duterte, who said the Speaker had nothing to do with her decision to seek the vice presidency in the 2022 elections, saying that it would be an “insult” to those “who incessantly implored” her for higher office.
Sta. Rosa City District Rep. Dan Fernandez said on Thursday that Duterte and the House’s all-out support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. could be stronger without any squabbles.
“This all-out support for our President, however, can be better fleshed out if it is devoid of political bickering. We appeal to Vice President Inday Sara, who ran and won on a platform espousing unity, to join the President in translating this call for unity into action,” said Fernandez in a statement.
While not explicitly alluding to Duterte, House Majority Leader Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe on Thursday said that they will prioritize Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac) bills rather than any political distractions.
“The House of Representatives will not be slowed down by premature partisanship. All these political rumblings are unnecessary distractions that will only break our momentum in ensuring the swift passage of President Marcos’ priority measures and those that were approved by Ledac. We have a commitment to the Filipino people that we will do even better on this second regular session,” Dalipe said.
Duterte’s remark was in response to Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr.’s claim that Romualdez had played a role in her decision to run in the 2022 elections.
The Vice President, however, instead attributed her decision to run to Sen. Imee Marcos.
“Speaker Martin Romualdez had absolutely nothing to do with my decision to run for Vice President. To say that he ‘tremendously helped in pushing for’ my Vice Presidential bid is acutely inaccurate — an insult to thousands of groups and individuals who incessantly implored me to reconsider an earlier decision not to join national politics,” Duterte said previously.
Barzaga, in response to Duterte, said that the House Speaker had taken the high road amid her criticisms.
“The Speaker held his horses and remained focused on his job as the leader of the House of Representatives amid this political rift. He never fired back with insults of his own. That shows strength of character,” said Barzaga.
In May, Duterte also left the supermajority political party Lakas–Christian Muslim Democrat, as she did not want “political toxicity” to poison her service to the people.