Martin1 Former President and returning Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo gives her thumbs up sign to calls for House Majority Leader and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin G. Romualdez to be the next Speaker during a lunch meeting in San Juan City.Mrs. Arroyo is Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) President Emeritus and Romualdez is Lakas-CMD. With them is Pampanga Vice Governor Lilia “Nanay Baby” Pineda. Photo by VER NOVENO

GMA backs Romualdez as Speaker

May 18, 2022 Ryan Ponce Pacpaco 447 views

FORMER President and returning Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Wednesday personally conveyed to House Majority Leader and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin G. Romualdez her support for him to become Speaker in the incoming 19th Congress.

The two met in San Juan City restaurant to discuss challenges Congress and the nation in general would face in the years ahead.

Romualdez expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the former president for her “words of support and encouragement.”

“Thank you ma’am. Coming from our President Emeritus in Lakas-CMD, it means a lot to me,” said Romualdez, who is also Lakas-CMD president.

Romualdez said he was counting on the former president for advice in shepherding the House of Representatives.

Arroyo’s expression of support followed a similar pronouncement from incumbent Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.

It boosts a torrent of endorsements for Romualdez from major political groups in the larger chamber of Congress, including his own party.

His endorsers now comprise an overwhelming majority in the incoming House.

In a statement to the media last Saturday, Arroyo said: “Majority Leader Martin Romualdez and I have been working together for decades in a joint effort to do our best to serve the Filipino people. Since 2010, our partnership involved our service as fellow members of the House of Representatives.”

“I will be returning to the House on June 30, 2022. I would therefore like to advise the members of the Lakas-CMD that I am throwing my support for Majority Leader Martin Romualdez to be elected as House Speaker in the next Congress. I urge all members of our party to do the same,” she said.

Arroyo also served as Speaker in the previous 17th Congress. By RYAN PONCE PACPACO

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