THERE appears to be no serious contenders against Speaker Martin Romualdez in the incoming 20th Congress because 283 out of the 287 congressmen from different parties who vowed to support him have already signed a manifesto of support calling for his retention as the leader of the House of Representatives, administration lawmakers said yesterday.
“With the number that is presented in front of us, parang malabo (it seems far-fetched),” Manila Rep. Ernesto Dionisio Jr. told a press conference when asked if there are serious challengers to the Speaker’s post.
“Each vote, each decision by each House member is given weight and importance. Just to be exact, there’s already 283 who signed the manifesto, so that’s an overwhelming majority in the support of Speaker Martin Romualdez,” Dionisio said.
The Speaker of the 20th Congress will be elected when session opens on July 28, the same day that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set to deliver his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco, who was the campaign manager of the administration’s senatorial slate “Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas,” has said he would only be open to challenging the Speaker’s post if the President and his House colleagues will give him their blessing.
Cebu Rep. Duke Frasco, who has denied that he was joining the speakership race, earlier said he would prefer either Tiangco or Negros Occidental Rep. Albee Benitez to be the next Speaker.
Frasco, who was sacked as member of the National Unity Party (NUP) for refusing to sign the party’s manifesto of support for Romualdez, was also earlier accused by party president Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte of trying to arm-twist the House leader into keeping him in his post as deputy speaker.
Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong confirmed that 283 lawmakers have already signed the manifesto of support for Romualdez.
While anybody can run for the House’s top post, Adiong said the question is “whether that person or that Congress member has the number to secure the position.”
Reacting to Frasco, Adiong said: “Well, he’s entitled to his opinion, he is entitled to cast his vote to whom he feels for him betting for the position.”
“Wala naman pong nagpwe-pwersa sa bawat isa sa amin na bomoto (No is forcing us to vote for anyone), in fact that actually is a manifestation that there is no… that when it comes to the election of the speakership wala pong sapilitan dito sa House (no one will be forced here at the House),” he said.
The two lawmakers also said the Speaker did not try to woo the votes of the 41 incoming neophyte lawmakers when he met with them and other reelected House members in a fellowship dinner last Wednesday.
“Wala namang appeal na mga ganun (There wasn’t such an appeal) for the speakership. It was mainly to give guidance and show support to the new members of the House. Speaker Martin was simply showing, ‘yung (it’s) guiding the new members on how they could become effective leaders of their respective districts,” Dionisio said.
Adiong, for his part, said: “Nanduon po kami (We were there) and it was merely getting to know each other kumbaga (so to speak). So, welcoming the incoming members of the 20th Congress, as well as to inspire them.”
“So it was simply a gesture of welcoming them, making them part of the official family of the incoming Congress. Wala pong napag-usapan duon (Nothing was discussed) about leadership support or anything about ‘yung (the) positions in the House,” he said.
