New deputy speaker vows to defend honor, integrity of House

Newly elected House Deputy Speaker Yasser Alonto Balindong vows he will defend the honor and integrity of the House.

MANILA, Philippines — Newly elected House Deputy Speaker Yasser Alonto Balindong, of Lanao del Sur’s second district, has assured the House of Representatives that he will defend the honor and integrity of the chamber amid the reshuffle in the leadership.

In a statement, Balindong also thanked House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and the entire House leadership for trusting him and electing him as the chamber’s deputy speaker.

Balindong was one of the two new deputy speakers — the other being Isabela 1st District Rep. Antonio Albano — elected by the House on Tuesday.  Balindong and Albano replaced former deputy speakers Davao City 3rd District Rep. Isidro Ungab and Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“As [a] representative of the 2nd district of Lanao del Sur and as a Deputy Speaker, and in compliance with the resolution that we overwhelmingly adopted on Monday, I am committed to defend the honor and integrity of the House of Representatives,” Balindong said.

“At the end of the day, our accomplishment will be measured by how we collectively work to make life better for our people.  Let us also continue supporting President [Ferdinand] Marcos [Jr.] and the leadership of Speaker Romualdez,” he added.

READ: Isabela Rep. Albano is new House deputy speaker replacing Arroyo 

Balindong’s statements came after the House leadership sponsored House Resolution No. 1414, which sought to defend the House from attacks against its dignity and integrity and also support Romualdez.  It was adopted during the session on Monday.

Romualdez also delivered a speech wherein he said he would stand up to defend the institution should it be attacked.

READ: Political parties reiterate support for Speaker Romualdez’s leadership 

A day after the resolution was passed, the House removed Arroyo and Ungab.  According to Majority Leader and Zamboanga City 2nd District Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe, the decision came after Arroyo and Ungab failed to sign a critical House resolution — HR No. 1414.

READ: House leadership reshuffle not about 2028 polls, says solon 

The House felt under attack after former president Rodrigo Duterte launched tirades against it, calling the chamber the “most rotten government organization.”  This was after the body decided to strip the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) of their confidential fund (CF) requests for 2024, amounting to P500 million and P150 million, respectively.

OVP and DepEd are headed by Duterte’s daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte.

READ: House reps find Duterte’s tirades offensive, a serious attack – secretary general 

Both Ungab and Arroyo have been known as key allies of the Dutertes: Vice President Duterte in the past has heaped praises at Arroyo, whom she considers a mentor, while Ungab was one of the lawmakers who defended OVP when its CF allocation for 2022 was being scrutinized.