Romualdez speaker bid backed by PDP-Laban, Lakas-CMD —Gonzales

Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez has the support of PDP-Laban and Lakas-CMD for his speakership bid for the 19th Congress, Pampanga 3rd District Representative Aurelio Gonzales  Jr. said Sunday.

“We will elect him as our Speaker. He has the full support of our party, PDP-Laban, and almost all political groups in the House led by his own Lakas-CMD, which he heads as president,” Gonzales said in a statement.

The House of Representatives will have its election on Monday, July 25, during the opening session of the 19th Congress.

Gonzales said Romualdez deserves to lead the House of Representatives as he was able to "hone his skills as a politician and parliamentarian through years of experience."

“Those skills will come in handy as our new Speaker shepherds the House in support of the legislative and unity agenda of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos,” the former deputy speaker said.

Romualdez, a cousin of Marcos, is president of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD).

Gonzales also said he is expecting National Unity Party (NUP) spokesman Reginald Velasco to be elected as House secretary general.

Both the NUP and former President and Lakas-CMD chair emeritus Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo have endorsed Romualdez to be the next Speaker.

Meanwhile, Romualdez said last Monday that lawmakers who will occupy leadership posts and committee chairmanships in the House of Representatives were being determined ahead of the First Regular Session of the 19th Congress set on July 25. —LBG/KG, GMA News