Defensor: Romualdez most qualified VP candidate for VP
PRESIDENT Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte has endorsed House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin G. Romualdez as his vice presidential candidate because of the House leader’s proven competence and leadership skills in shepherding the passage of pro-people legislations designed to ensure a sustained campaign to defeat the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a seasoned lawmaker said Friday.
Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Mike Defensor, a former Malacañang Chief of Staff during the Arroyo administration, and Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. said Romualdez, a lawyer and president of the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa), has the experience and leadership advantage compared to other potential vice presidential candidates.
Defensor said Romualdez, president of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD), is also a consensus-builder and the most acceptable to the overwhelming majority of their colleagues and Cabinet members of President Duterte.
He added that Romualdez, chairman of the House committee on rules, is the most qualified candidate for the country’s second highest position of the land given his track record in public service, apart from the fact that he is a lawyer and a banker.
“The President’s statement of support for Majority Floor Leader Martin Romualdez is a recognition of his proven competence and his consensus building leadership,” stressed Defensor, also a former secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
“The country will greatly benefit with Majority Leader Martin as Vice – President in conjunction with the services he will render to whoever will be President of the Republic,” added Defensor, a former general manager of the National Housing Authority (NHA) and chairman of the Housing and urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC).
For his part, Revilla, Lakas-CMD chairman, lauded President Duterte for endorsing Romualdez being one of the most competent congressional leaders, if not the most this 18th Congress.
“Lakas-CMD expresses our gratitude to the President for expressing his support to our Party President, House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, if he decides to run for Vice President,” Revilla said.
“Martin is more than capable. He is highly qualified for the demands of the position. Consensus builder kasi si Martin. Instead of dwelling on problems, he makes sure he is a part of the solution and sways everyone to do the same,” Revilla added.
Romualdez said he is not closing his doors on the 2022 national elections, as he expressed gratitude to President Duterte for the surprise endorsement of him as vice presidential candidate in the 2022 elections.
“I thank President Rodrigo Duterte for his trust and confidence in me to hold the second-highest position of the land. I am deeply honored that he considers me, a congressman from the Eastern Visayas worthy to serve as the country’s next Vice President. For this, I will be eternally grateful to the President,” Romualdez said.
“Currently, I am keeping my options open with regard to the 2022 elections,” he added. “For sure, the President’s warm support and words of encouragement will weigh heavily on whatever decision I have to make in October 2021.”
The President earlier said he would give way and support Romualdez should the lawmaker decide to run for the vice presidency.
As House Majority Leader, Romualdez assured that he will remain “focused on steering the approval of vital legislative measures that the President wishes to be passed before his term ends next year.”
