FORMER President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Nacionalista Party and PDP-Laban on Saturday endorsed House Majority Leader and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin G. Romualdez as Speaker of the 19th Congress.

Arroyo, president emeritus of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD), also asked her partymates to support Romualdez as their leader for the next Congress.

“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,” Arroyo said.

Arroyo added: “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,” Arroyo also said.

NP, PDP-Laban back Romualdez

Deputy Speaker and Las Piñas City Rep. Camille Villar announced the support of the Nacionalista Party (NP) for Romualdez as Speaker of the next Congress.

“The Nacionalista Party is throwing its full support to Leyte 1st District Representative and House Majority leader Ferdinand Martin Romualdez to become the next Speaker of the House of Representatives. His 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,” Villar said.

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

Energy Sec. Alfonso Cusi, PDP-Laban president, also bared the support of President Rodrigo ‘Rody’ Duterte’s party to Romualdez as leader of the House of Representatives.

“I am pleased to announce that the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan (PDP Laban) party is endorsing House Majority Leader and Leyte First District Rep. Martin Romualdez as the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the incoming 19th Congress of the Philippines,” Cusi said.

“His track record speaks for itself. At very crucial moments, Cong. Romualdez supported President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in the enactment of important laws such as the two Bayanihan Laws, the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021, and the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act, and the amendments to the Retail Trade Liberalization Act of 2000, among others. He is indeed one of the most hardworking Members of Congress,” Cusi added.

“We believe that Cong. Romualdez can bring the various political parties and blocs in the House of Representatives together to continue the legacy programs of the Duterte Administration as well as shepherd in Congress the vision of President-elect Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. for a more progressive Philippines,” Cusi also said.

Cusi added: “Therefore, our 65 newly elected PDP Laban Representatives are throwing their full support behind Romualdez because we believe in his capacity to unite and lead Congress for the passage of significant laws and initiatives for the benefit of the Filipino people. Tuloy ang Pagbabago! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!” By RYAN PONCE PACPACO