Sotto announces NPC's support for Romualdez's speakership bid

Senate President and Nationalist People's Coalition chairman Vicente Sotto III on Saturday said the NPC is supporting Leyte 1st District Martin Romualdez in his bid for the post of Speaker in the 19th Congress.

Romualdez, president of Lakas-CMD, joined the NPC in its fellowship dinner on Saturday at Makati Diamond Residences.

"With the authority given to me, I hereby declare that the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) in the House of Representatives will support the speakership of Martin Romualdez. I mentioned it before, but tonight (Saturday) we make it official," Sotto said, according to a statement from Lakas-CMD.

"We assure you (party members) that this party has always been there, strong, will remain strong and under the leadership of the new Speaker Martin Romualdez, I'm sure that we will have a very good 19th Congress in the House of Representatives," he added.

NPC stalwart and Rizal 1st District Representative Jack Duavit also assured Romualdez of the party's support.

"We just like you (Romualdez) to know that we are not just going to be your partners, we are always your friends, you can count on our support because we know that your cousin and yourself are out to rebuild this nation and we want to be a part of that and we want to be a part of that success," Duavit said.

Romualdez is a cousin of presumptive president Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

Senator Chiz Escudero meanwhile, said the NPC will be Romualdez's steady partner in Congress.

"Sa ilalim ng iyong liderato sa Kamara, naniniwala ako malaki ang papel na puwedeng gampanan ng mga miyembro ng NPC para isulong ang iyong mga mithiin bilang bagong Speaker ng Kamara de Representantes," Escudero said.

(Under your leadership in the House, the NPC members I believe can take on a big role in supporting your goals as speaker of the House of Representatives.)

Romualdez then expressed gratitude to Sotto and the NPC for their support and said he .

"Salamat po sa NPC, sa chairperson, Senate President Tito Sotto. As you know I have always admired you from a far because at the Lower House, we would always watch what you would do, a true leader, a consensus-builder. You have steered the Senate through troubled waters and you always navigated [in the right direction]. That's why we admire you and the party, the NPC that you symbolize and represent. Maraming-maraming salamat po sa lahat ng tulong at suporta," he said.

(Thank you, NPC, and to its chairperson Senate President Tito Sotto... Thank you very much for all the help and support.)

"We will have a great partnership with the Senate and of course in consonance with the legislative agenda of the [incoming] administration. I am sure that at the heels of this pandemic, we will be at the road to recovery not just health wise, but economically, that's what we look forward," Romualdez added.

Also present at the event were NPC stalwarts and senators-elect Sherwin Gatchalian, JV Ejercito and Loren Legarda.

Lakas-CMD chair emeritus and former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the group of newly elected House members led by Ilocos Norte 1st District Representative-elect Sandro Marcos and incoming lawmakers from PDP-Laban, the Nacionalista Party, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino, Hugpong ng Pagbabago, National Unity Party, as well as party-list and independent congressmen have earlier expressed support for Romualdez's speakership bid. —KG, GMA News