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wtvl,rr.manilatime s.net
THURSDAY, JUNE 27,2019

*3 Rep. Lordlllan Velasto

leads
'
Speaker race
ivlALiNDUQUE Rep. LordAllanVelas'
co is leading the race for the toP post
in the House of Representatives after
getding a good number ofsignatories
ftom members of the chambei and
an endorsementftom the administra-
tion party.
On Wednesday, Sen. Emmanuel
Pacquiao, campaign rnanager of
the ruling Partido Demokratiko
Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-La-
ban), announced that the party had
picked Velasco as its olficial bet in
the incoming 18th Congress.
Velasco's rivals from the same
pdrly are Pampanga Rep. Aurelio
FLeasisA2

, Mt;vt p,\w Ptt' )

\ tlatoul€ N&0c q
(t)
 -

wHrsprR
OF HOPE
Rep. Martin Romuald€z
,,'::qK
tirtensi1::ffi
to Rep. Fledinel Castlo dLring
a news bri€fing on the caucus
held by lawmakels belonging
to va.ious politi(al parties.
Romuald€z maintained that he
temaif,s. strong (ontendfi in th€
spealership la(e. pHOT0 By
RUY L. MARTINEZ
^
rIEADS FROM A1
the House.

Velasco leads Speaker race Two-thirds of the members of

the 54-strong PCFI had reportedly
expressed suppon for Romualdez,
Gonzaleq:PDP-Lqba4ls inteiim much-needed unity to rhe bigger In a starement s€nt to rhe media, Anak Kalusugan Rep. Michael
national, executive vice presi- chamber" Velasco # pDp_Laban spokesman Ron N4un_
Defensor said.
::lji,""o
pavaoldet N_orre. Rep.1tf elected speaker <if the saync said as a polirical pany, rhey This came about despite l-pac-
l'antaleon Alvarez, PDp-r,aban'n rgth congress as representative of -{;:.i;;::i;:?,j'ilr^o_
.,, i
wourd 'move and act as one-, man party-list Rep. Michael Rome-
seoeta'geeerat. trresingre"mostd;ffi;;.q,; ro, president ofthe PCFI, being one
the 4l-year-old iawmdker witt pAf,f*Li*i,
Congreis and the who will de!, its choice for the ofthe signatories of fte manifesto
' rupning he-ad-ro-head against
be presiienr Rodrigo D",*";;"';;"i speakership will be sanctioned,,, supporting Velasco.
kyte Rep. Martin Romualdez and them that I wili remain a consul_ Munsayac wamed.
n l am f'.t"t Cayetano in Meanwhile, the Makabayan
:
I JaS,"S
tative anil a listening l;; ;h; But Velasco, a Romualdez sup_ bloc officially endorsed Balan
the speakership race welcomes his felloi, law-akers porter and a pDp_Laban member, Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate for the
said velasco arready regardles oftheir politicar corors said such threats were ,baseless ,
,nao9o.y'l"r .speakership race.
tne support ot 200 House and affiliations,,,he added. and
,,unjustified,"
u, ,ro .orrrul_ The alliance, composed of law-
mernben ahead ofthe voting on
22.
Mean&trile, Romu€ldu saidhewas tation ,r, ,nrd. makers liom progressive groups,
luly still a "saious and stong" .on*J* "-ong;,h;
members in the first place. made the announcement on
of this number, 60 are from with or€r iz8 taffinakin vouching 'Any threats or sanctions are Wednesday moming, noting that
PDP-Labarr 39 ftom the Nationalist forhim in a predge ofcommit-enr"
Peoplet coalitioq l2ftomrhelib- "r w l be th"e last
unlusiified
".d -.t ";l; i;;; Congress needs a leaderwho would
one to the unwanred be ."";"q;;r;;-;; figfrt for the interest of those in
P1ry, ftol rh9 Nacionalista presumptuous ro say thar I have a reduced representation
:nl ]5 in the the marginalized sector, women,
rh: National Unity more than the numbers to become Commission
larty, _l_s.from. on Appointments, workers and children, instead ofthe
fiomthe Partylistcoalition speaker," he told reponen at the
45
laftt which is similarry .ri r."L i" ,rr. interest of olher countries.
Foundation Inc. (PCFI) and 25 ftom sidelines ofa caucus with
4'.House party,,, he told reporters.
independent members. ' The Makabayan bloc is com-
In a statement, velasco vowed
membersto strategize the pastsage
Dutene's legislative agenda.
" of Zamboanga Sibugay First Dis- posed of Bayan Muna's Zarate,
tdct Rep. wiirer par"^a :nd, also ACTTeachers pany-list Represen-
to push the agenda of President
a pDp-Laban membe! norcd that tatives Antonio Tinio and France
Rgddgo Duterte once he secures PDP-Laban divided pi.r"nt in
he and other memb.r, Castro, Gabriela Representative{r
th! House post. tie caucus rv"r. ,fr"r.
io opr"r, Emmi de lesus and Arlene Brol
The trust and confidence ofmy Despite pDp-laban's endorsement support
ard inclination for Ro- sas, Anakpawis party-list Rep.
partymates in my leadership to of velasco, other members.of
the mualdez,s advocacies. Ariel Casilao and Kabataan
steer the next congress and com- biggest politicar bloc in the lower
Romualdez is a member ofthe party-list Rep. Sarah Elago.
mitment tosuppot us will inspire House remain unfazed by sup-
Iakas chrisrianMuslim il;;. A new speaker will be elected
me to work harder in bringing posed "sanaions' ifthey vouch for pDp-Laban is the biggest po-
about meaningful changes and the someone else
on I'Jy 22, as the 18th Congress
litical bloc, with Sa me;beri in formallyconvenes. GLEE JALEA
r' Hel\ouile Na@cu
162 )