'Manifesto' backing Romualdez's speakership going around House

A considerable number of House lawmakers have probably thrown their support for Leyte Representative-elect Martin Romualdez, as he aims for the speakership, House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez claimed Wednesday.

In a press conference, Suarez said a "manifesto" gathering support for Romualdez is supposedly going around among House members.

"Ang alam ko, yung gathering of signatures, mukhang marami nang nag-cast ng support kay Cong. Romualdez," Suarez said.

"I don't know whether the other candidates have circularized a manifesto of support. Ang alam ko, ang meron lang nakakuha ng ganun karaming endorsement is Cong. Martin Romualdez," he added.

Romualdez earlier confirmed that he is interested in succeeding outgoing Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

He is set to go against other lawmakers who expressed interest or are being persuaded to take the role of Speaker, including Taguig City Representative-elect Alan Peter Cayetano, Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco, and Davao Del Norte Representative and former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

But Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, who reportedly had a hand in the election of Arroyo as Speaker last July, had supposedly asked the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) to back Velasco's bid.

AKO BICOL party-list Representative Alfredo Garbin Jr. said he has not received such message from Sara. He admitted, however, that the congressman whom President Rodrigo Duterte chooses to become Speaker usually gets the position.

"All parties have common denominator. Kung sino yung i-anoint ng Presidente, doon pupunta ang majority," he said.

But as far as Suarez is concerned, all lawmakers who are interested in becoming Speaker have proven competence, but only one of them is a cut above the rest.

"Matagal na rin ako dito at yung caliber ng mga kasama ko, medyo kabisado ko na rin. All of them can be good Speakers, but one of them is outstanding," he said.

At a news forum in Manila, Romualdez said that an effective House speaker is one that is "consultative," "sensitive" to district representatives'  local concerns, "generous" with time and resources, and "very accessible."

"You have to be the congressman's congressman, diba? Kaya sinasabi ko, God willing that's my position, we would have to engage the congressmen without exception," he said. —LBG, GMA News