OUTGOING Speaker Lord Allan Velasco yesterday joined different political parties and blocs in endorsing Majority Leader Ferdinand Martin Romualdez to be the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the 19th Congress.
Velasco, who has been reelected unopposed as representative of the lone legislative district of Marinduque for a third consecutive term, paid Romualdez a courtesy call in Makati City to personally express support for his speakership.
Romualdez is a cousin of the next president, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
“I believe that his election as Speaker of the 19th Congress will ensure that the legislative agenda of the incoming administration will be pursued and completed. Majority leader Romualdez has my support and friendship,” Velasco said.
Former Marikina City Rep. Miro Quimbo, incoming Party-list Foundation Coalition Inc. (PCFI) president Rep. Zaldy Co of Ako Bicol party-list, senior deputy majority leader Jesus Crispin Remulla of Cavite and outgoing Rep. Alfredo Garbin of Ako Bicol party-list also attended the meeting.
Velasco, who belongs to administration party PDP-Laban which was among the parties that announced its support for Romualdez over the weekend, thanked the majority leader for helping him shepherd the House, saying the incoming speaker, who is also the president of the Lakas-CMD, has been his “steady partner and ally in the 18th Congress.”
“His strong leadership and support as our Majority Leader was crucial to the passage of relevant and timely pandemic-response measures and the approval of important and key laws that will have immense impact to stir and sustain our economic growth and development as we continue to navigate to the new normal. Under his watch, the House was able to carry on and carry out its mandate despite physical limitations due to the pandemic with the passage of priority legislative measures of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte,” Velasco said.
In reply, Romualdez told the outgoing speaker: “I am grateful for your support. From the bottom of my heart, thank you Speaker Velasco.”
Apart from the PDD-Laban and Lakas, Romualdez has received an avalanche of support from the ruling PDP-Laban, Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP), National Unity Party (NUP), Liberal Party (LP), Party-list Coalition Foundation, Inc. (PCFI) and independents.
The two leaders also discussed Congress’ official canvassing of the votes for president and vice president which will begin next week at the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City. — With Raymond Africa
