Party-list choices for Speaker down to Velasco, Romualdez —Nograles

Party-list congressmen are down to only two choices for the next Speaker of the House of Representatives, according to PBA party-list Representative Jericho Nograles.

Nograles claimed that members of the Party-list Coalition, who will be voting as one, are only choosing between Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco of the PDP-Laban party and Leyte Representative-elect Martin Romualdez of Lakas.

According to the lawmaker, the party-list congressmen narrowed down their choices to the two aspirants as they believe they are the only ones who are serious in their bid and who have strong connections with the party-list groups.

"I observed that our Partylist Congressmen are one in the belief that under a Velasco or a Romualdez Speakership, we will be treated fairly and the concerns of our constituents will be heard and respected," Nograles said in a statement Tuesday.

"Some of the wannabes who have tried to reach out to us obviously have a different view about party-list groups. Parang mababa ang tingin sa amin," he added without mentioning names.

"Our choice is down to two. Velasco or Romualdez. This will be a tough decision to make because both of them are close to our hearts but we will definitely choose the Speaker who can treat us justly and fairly," he said.

1-PACMAN party-list Representative Michael Romero, president of the Party-list Coalition, clarified in a separate statement that the group does not have an official position yet as to their choice for the next Speaker as they will still meet next week.

"But, we give utmost importance and respect to the sentiments of each and every party-list members," Romero said.

"In the end, the Party-list Coalition after the process will still vote as one big [bloc]," he added.

Both Velasco and Romualdez, along with other possible candidates for the speakership, namely Taguig City Representative-elect Alan Peter Cayetano, Davao Del Norte Representative Pantaleon Alvarez, and Pampanga Representative Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales, have earlier met with the 54-member Party-list Coalition to discuss their legislative agenda and plans for the next Congress.

Deputy Speaker Sharon Garin, who serves as chairman emeritus of the coalition, earlier said they are looking for a Speaker who can assure them of equal treatment and recognition.

"Kung ang party-lists, by law, is 20 percent of the composition of the House, we're looking for 20 percent of the chairmanship," she said.

"What is properly due to the coalition, that is what we are asking for. Equal treatment among parties including the party-list coalition," Garin added.

Romero, however, said they will be abide by the endorsement of President Rodrigo Duterte for the speakership position.

"The reality is this is the House of Representatives. And of course, kapag ang Presidente ay may pinili, napakahirap naman to go against. Yan ang reality," he said.

"This is a number's game. This is the House of Representatives. Kung ano ang piliin ng Presidente, tingin ko naman yan din ang mapipili rito. So we will abide," Romero added. —KBK/RSJ, GMA News