200 of 304 House members expected to support Velasco —PDP official

At least 200 members of the House of Representatives are expected to vote for Marinduque Representative Lord Alan Velasco as Speaker when the 18th Congress starts in July, a Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan official said Wednesday.

Pampanga Representative Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales, PDP-Laban executive vice president, said they came up with the number after a multi-party meeting in Malacañang on Tuesday.

“Sa aming estimate kahapon sa meeting with other parties, more or less 200 members na ang pipirma at susuporta kay Velasco,” Gonzales said in a press conference after a video conference with Senator Manny Pacquiao, who named  Velasco as the administration party’s bet.

Aside from Gonzales, among those who signed the multi-party manifesto of support for Velasco were Party-list Coalition president 1-PACMAN party-list Representative Michael Romero, Rizal Representative Michael John Duavit and Valenzuela Representative Weslie Gatchalian for Nationalist People's Coalition, and Ilocos Sur Representative-elect Kristine Singson-Meehan for the Northern Luzon Alliance.

The House of Representatives has 304 members.

Gonzales said 39 members of NPC have expressed support for Velasco; 12 from Liberal Party; 15 from Nacionalista Party; 20 to 25 from North Luzon Alliance; 15 from National Unity Party; 45 to 50 from party-list coalition; and 25 independent House members.

He had earlier said that at least 60 members of PDP-Laban have signed a manifesto of support for Velasco. Others who have yet to sign have already expressed support for Velasco, PDP-Laban has  84 members in the House. —KBK, GMA News