FORMER President and Speaker of the House Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has expressed full support to Majority Leader Martin Romualdez as the next Speaker of the House of the 19th Congress.

Unopposed Arroyo got a fresh term as Pampanga’s 2nd District Representatives and is also rumored to vie for Speaker of House, a position she held in a short period of time during the 17th Congress.

However, Arroyo is urging her colleagues from Lakas-CMD to support Romualdez. Arroyo is Lakas Chair Emeritus while Romualdez is the President. Presumptive vice president Sara Duterte is the party’s chairman.

“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,” Rep. Arroyo said.

“ I urge all members of our party to do the same,” she added.

Talk of sitting Romualdez as next Speaker became louder when some elected members of the 19th Congress began to see and hold meetings with him.

Among them are lawmakers from the solid north led by Ilocos Norte Congressman elect Sandro Marcos.

Likewise, during the thanksgiving dinner with friends and staff, presumptive president Bongbong Marcos Jr. gave his explicit endorsement of Romualdez as the House leader in the upcoming Congress.

Romualdez is Marcos’ first cousin.

“Of course how can I talk about this without talking about sa ginawa ng tulong ng Lakas, at syempre headed ng ating Majority Floor Leader, Congressman Martin, who looks to be set the next speaker,” Marcos said.

Marcos even said he will be the super majority Speaker.

NP TO VOTE FOR MARTIN

The Nacionalista Party is throwing its full support to Romualdez to become the next Speaker.

Party spokesperson Deputy Speaker and Las Pinas Rep. Camille Villar said Romualdez ‘ outstanding performance as Majority Floor Leader of the 18th Congress shepherding vital legislation and building consensus and harmony among the diverse members of the House make him well-suited for the Speakership.

“The Nacionalista Party believes that Speaker Romualdez will be a vital cog as the incoming Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. administration fulfills its vision of unity and prosperity for the country,” Villar stressed.

PARTY-LIST GROUPS FOR ROMUALDEZ

The Party-list Coalition Foundation Inc (PCFI), with at least 60 strong members, threw its support to Romualdez to be the next House Speaker and announced that Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co would be taking over the group’s helm.

The PCFI members made the announcements during a gathering yesterday at Chef Jesse in Rockwell, Makati City.

“We, the Party-list Representatives elected for the 19th Congress, hereby affix our signatures in this joint statement to endorse Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (Leyte, 1st District) for Speaker in the 19th Congress. We recognize the vital role played by Rep. Martin Romualdez, in his capacity as House Majority Leader for three years, in making the 18th Congress one of the most productive ever. His work ethic and proven ability as consensus builder enabled the House of Representatives to enact important pieces of legislation that shielded our economy and our people from the devastating effects of a global pandemic,” the group’s manifestation of support stated.

“We firmly believe that Rep. Martin Romualdez, once elected Speaker of the 19th Congress, will be able to unite different political parties in the House of Representatives in support of the incoming President’s legislative agenda. We also issue this statement to pledge our commitment in support of the legislative agenda to be presented by President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos, Jr. in the opening of the 19th Congress on the fourth Monday of July this year,” it added.

Deputy Speaker and 1-Pacman Party-list Rep. Mikee Romero is the present PCFI president.

According to the PCFI solons, Romualdez will be able to answer the call of the nation for laws and policies that will aid the recovery of the economy, and ultimately, the betterment of the nation.

Described as a consensus-builder and noteworthy for his cool and calm demeanor, Romualdez represented the notion of stability in the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic-rocked 18th Congress.

He guided the House members with his steady hand even as the speakership underwent tumultuous times with a changing of the guard.

Meanwhile, a separate manifestation of support justified the party-list lawmakers’ choice of Co as the next PCFI president.

“We, the Partylist Representatives elected for the 19th Congress, hereby affix our signatures in this joint statement to commit ourselves in support of Rep. Elizaldy Co (Ako Bicol) for President of the Partylist Coalition in the House of Representatives.

With Rep. Co leading our Coalition, we are one in the belief that the Partylist Representatives will unite as a solid group and a potent bloc in Congress- a move necessary to push for advocacies that our respective constituents expect from us,” the second manifestation read.

“We also issue this statement to pledge our commitment in support of the legislative agenda to be presented by President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos, Jr. in the opening of the 19th Congress on the fourth Monday of July this year,” it added.

Co, the first nominee of Ako Bicol Party-list, has proven his worth and competence as a lawmaker, leader, and member of the PCFI in the 18th Congress.

The PCFI is the biggest political bloc in the House of Representatives in the current 18th Congress. By Jester Manalastas