New senior deputy speaker Gonzales stresses PDP-Laban support for Marcos, Romualdez

Pampanga Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales on Thursday stressed the PDP-Laban's support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.

Gonzales made the statement a day after the House of Representatives elected him Senior Deputy Speaker to replace fellow Pampanga lawmaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Arroyo, a party mate of Romualdez's in the Lakas-CMD, will continue to be deputy speaker. She's also a former President and former Speaker of the House.

Gonzales is a stalwart of the PDP-Laban, the former ruling party still chaired by former President Rodrigo Duterte.

“The PDP-Laban today expressed its full support for the administration of President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. and the leadership of Speaker Martin Romualdez in the House of Representatives,” Gonzales said.

“Together, they have accomplished much for our country and our people,” he added.

Marcos and Romualdez are first cousins.

Gonzales said that the PDP-Laban is thankful to the House and Romualdez for choosing and electing him Senior Deputy Speaker.

“Our Speaker is a valuable ally and helping hand to the President in terms of shepherding the administration’s legislative priorities in Congress,” Gonzales said.

“As in the past, as a loyal member of the majority, I will always support the Speaker and will continue to work for the benefit of my constituents in the 3rd district of Pampanga,” he added.

Arroyo said the change in senior deputy speaker was a "prerogative of the House.”

Nacionalista Party members Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar and Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace issued separate statements expressing the NP's support for Romualdez.

"The NP expresses its unequivocal support to the leadership of Speaker Martin Romualdez of the House of Representatives as we remain fully committed to the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to its vision of a united and prosperous nation,” said Villar, a deputy speaker.

Barbers congratulated Gonzales over the latter’s new post, saying the latter’s work would complement Romualdez who has made a good impression on the NP.

“Senior Deputy Speaker Gonzales is one of our reliable and diligent partners in the House of Representatives and a great addition to the working force of our hard-working Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez,” Barbers said.

“The party is impressed by Speaker Romualdez’s integrity being a strong and decisive leader with an understanding and compassionate heart for the people," he added.

"At the same time, we also reiterate our full support to President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos, Jr., whose 8-point Socio-Economic Agenda guides our work as legislators,” Barbers said. —NB, GMA Integrated News