Marcos won't comment on speakership issue 'as of yet'

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is not yet keen on commenting about the leadership issue in the House of Representatives amid rumors of an alleged plot to oust Speaker Martin Romualdez.

"I won't make any comments about the speakership, as of yet," Marcos
said at the League of Provinces of the Philippines 4th General Assembly in Pampanga after introducing Romualdez.

Marcos' statement came after former President and Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo denied rumors that she was plotting moves to oust Romualdez.

The House of Representatives earlier voted to replace Arroyo with Pampanga Rep. Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales, Jr. as senior deputy speaker.

Arroyo said the move was "the prerogative of the House."

Major political parties — among them the Lakas-CMD, the National Unity Party (NUP) and the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) — have reiterated their support for Romualdez, who is Marcos' cousin.

The administration-allied Party-List Foundation, Inc., (PCFI) also said it is still supporting Romualdez. —KBK, GMA Integrated News