Jose C. De Venecia, Jr.

Personal Information • Birthdate: December 26, 1936 • Birthplace: Dagupan City, Pangasinan • Spouse: Georgina de Venecia Education • Elementary, Dagupan Elementary School • High School, De La Salle College High School (1951) • BS Journalism, Ateneo de Manila (1955) Career • Representative, 4th District of Pangasinan (2007-2010); elected House Speaker (2007- February 5, 2008) • Representative, 4th District of Pangasinan; elected House Speaker (2004-2007) • Representative, 4th District of Pangasinan; elected House Speaker (2001-2004) • Representative, 4th District of Pangasinan; elected House Speaker (1995-1998) • Representative, 4th District of Pangasinan; elected House Speaker (1992-1995) • Representative, 4th District of Pangasinan (1987-1992) • Minister and economic counselor, Philippine Embassy in Saigon (1966-1969) • Representative, 2nd District of Pangasinan (1969-1972) Issues • Ousted as House Speaker. The House of Representatives ousted House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. and elected Davao City Rep. Prospero Nograles, Jr. to the vacated post on February 5, 2008. • (erstwhile) Arroyo ally. de Venecia threw his support behind President Arroyo amid the resignations of top government officials and mass protests during the Hello Garci controversy of 2005. His party, LAKAS-CMD, delivered a majority of the House votes that spared President Arroyo from impeachment in 2005 and 2006. de Venecia also supported the Arroyo administration's charter change thrust. • ZTE controversy. One of the key players who figured prominently in the ZTE controversy was de Venecia's son, Jose "Joey" de Venecia III. Alleging that the elder de Venecia had used his position of power and influence for Joey's benefit, Atty. Roel Pulido filed ethics and graft complaints against the Speaker in September 2007. • 1998 presidential bid. De Venecia ran for president in 1998 under the coalition LAKAS-NUCD-KAMPI. His running mate, then senator Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, won as vice president; he however lost to Joseph Estrada. • Ramos ally. De Venecia was already the House Speaker during the Ramos administration. He formed an alliance between the official administration party at that time, LAKAS-NUCD-UMDP, and other political parties at the House of Representatives. The resulting "rainbow coalition" supported the Ramos administration's policies. (Dynamics of Political Parties in the Philippines by Clarita Carlos) • Member of a political family. De Venecia is the son-in-law of a former House speaker, Eugenio Perez. Perez' daughter, Victoria, was de Venecia's first wife.