Outgoing Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. is expected to assume post as the chair of the House committee on accounts in the incoming 17th Congress, an official who refused not to be named said on Wednesday.
The source said that this was the consensus offered to Belmonte who just joined the majority coalition in the House led by the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan of incoming President Rodrigo Duterte.
“The offer is for the Speaker to head the House committee on accounts,” said the congressman, who is privy to the negotiation of Belmonte of the ruling Liberal Party and incoming Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez of Davao del Norte of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan.
Belmonte, LP vice chairman, is in coalition talks with Alvarez for possible LP and PDP-Laban alliance in the soon-to-be created super majority.
The House committee on accounts in the 16th Congress was chaired by Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona, a stalwart of the Nacionalista Party.
The accounts committee is said to be one of the powerful committees at the House as this is responsible for budget preparation, approval, disbursements, and accounting for the financial operations of the House of Representatives.
The source said Belmonte is “no stranger” to PDP-Laban being a former member of the party in the early 90s and a colleague of Duterte and a travelling buddy during the 11th Congress (1998-2001).
As of press time, Belmonte has yet to comment on the possibility that he will head the accounts committee.
Belmonte earlier said he would opt to be the new minority leader.
But this has changed following his visit to Davao City to meet Duterte for a courtesy call, and Alvarez as well.
Belmonte, who has already conceded to Alvarez, maintained that Alvarez will be the next Speaker, and that they will support him and the Duterte administration.
“He’s [Alvarez] got it in the bag,” Belmonte said.