Incoming Speaker Alvarez meets PDP-Laban members ahead of SONA

Incoming House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Friday met new and old members of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipinas-Lakas ng Bayan days ahead of President Rodrigo Duterte’s first State of the Nation Address.

In an interview with reporters, Alvarez said the gathering is not a show of force but merely a fellowship.

“Fellowship lang para sa PDP-Laban members sa Congress kasi hindi naman sila sabay sabay na nag -oath so ngayon magkakasama na lahat.  Puro PDP-Laban ito, walang coalition members,” he said.

“Para lang maipakita sa new members kung ano ang PDP-Laban,” he added.

He said there are around 100 PDP-Laban members in the House of Representatives and they have 100 more coalition members. 

Among those present were Reps. Rodolfo Fariñas, Alfred Benitez, Bayani Fernando, Jorge Almonte, Vincent Crisologo, Dale Malapitan, Federico Sandoval, Baby Arenas, Eric Singson, and Lucy Torres.

Asked on the decision of outgoing House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte to be part of the minority instead of being a coalition partner, Alvarez said he is clueless. 

“Hindi ko talaga alam if tutuloy si Speaker Belmonte sa bid niya as minority leader. Hindi ko alam but I think more on yung decision ni Speaker Belmonte kung saan niya gusto mag-align kasi yung mga LP na gusto mag-join ng majority lumipat na rin sa PDP,  yung iba naman nasa ibang partido like NP, NPC, at NUP,” he said.

He added that Belmonte is not asking for anything in exchange for him being part of the majority.

As of posting time, Alvarez is discussing with the members the bills they need to pass such as the emergency powers to resolve traffic problem, the resolution on constitutional convention, and lowering of the criminal liability of youth offenders. — RSJ, GMA News