Duterte & Martin House Majority Leader and Lakas-CMD Party President Martin Romualdez to President Rodrigo Duterte: “Maraming salamat po, Pangulong Duterte, sa tiwala. Asahan ninyo po, hindi ko kayo bibiguin sa ating pagkakaisa sa paglilingkod sa ating mga mamamayan.”

Romualdez thanks PRRD for trust, VP endorsement

June 17, 2021 Ryan Ponce Pacpaco 427 views

MartinHOUSE Majority Leader and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin G. Romualdez is not closing his doors on the 2022 national elections, as he expressed gratitude to President Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte for the surprise endorsement of him as a vice presidential candidate in next year’s political exercise.

“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, chairman of the House committee on rules, said Thursday.

“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.”

“Let me assure the President that I will seek his guidance in the pursuit of this decision,” Romualdez, president of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD), added.

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.”

“Marami pa po kaming kailangang gawin sa House of Representatives. Marami pa kaming batas na dapat ipasa para mapabuti ang kalagayan ng mga kababayan nating Pilipino sa panahon ng pandemya,” said Romualdez, a lawyer from the University of the Philippines (UP) and president of the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa) or the oldest and most respectable association of legal luminaries in the country.

“Maraming salamat po, Pangulong Duterte, sa tiwala. Asahan ninyo po, hindi ko kayo bibiguin sa ating pagkakaisa sa paglilingkod sa ating mga mamamayan,” Romualdez said.

Romualdez issued the statement when asked by reporters for his comment on President Duterte’s endorsement.

“Pag tumakbo si Romualdez, I will support him. ‘Yan ang pinangako ko. Walang problema. I will honor my word,” Duterte said during a ceremonial re-enactment of the signing of several bills at Malacañang Palace.

The President said he promised Romualdez his support as early as two years ago at the height of the speakership tussle at the House of Representatives.

“Nung they were jockeying the positions for the so many contenders, si [Rep.] Lord [Allan Velasco] pati si [Rep.] Alan Peter Cayetano, sinabi ko hatiin na lang ninyo. But the problem was, there was a serious contender also for speakership, si Congressman Romualdez,” the Chief Executive said.

“Kaya ang deal ko sa kanya ganito: ‘Wag ka na lang maghabol diyan and next election, which is just around the corner, if you run for vice president, I will support you and I will hold on that commitment,” he added.

Stressing that he is serious in endorsing Romualdez as vice presidential candidate, the Chief Executive maintained: “Pag tumakbo si Romualdez, I will support him. Yan ang pinangako ko. Walang problema. I will honor my word.”

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