4 House blocs voice support for Romualdez
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday shrugged off insinuations that there is more to the movement at the House of Representatives other than being “just a run of the mill” reorganization.
“I think we should be careful to not read too much into it,” he said in an interview two days after former President and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo replaced as senior deputy speaker.
Mr. Marcos made the statement as four more political blocs expressed their support for his administration and the leadership of Speaker Martin Romualdez.
“I really see it as just a run of the mill comes once in while… If you’re in government long enough, you have seen many of this. In my time as congressman, I had two terms as congressman, I think it’s the third time we’ve been like this and this is just part of reorganization,” he said.
Meanwhile, Lakas-CMD, the National Unity Party (NUP), the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) as well as the Party-List Foundation Inc., (PCFI), reiterated their strong support for Romualdez.
In a statement, Lakas-CMD co-chairperson Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. said their party, being the country’s most dominant political party, continues to be “united and supportive” of President Marcos Jr. under the stewardship of Romualdez.
“Through the darkest of storms and greatest of tribulations, we have proven time and again that our unity will never be torn down,” said Revilla.
The NUP, in a separate statement, reiterated its commitment to the supermajority coalition that Romualdez formed.
“We are witnesses to how Speaker Romualdez has steered the House in legislating key reform measures included in the 8-Point Socio-Economic Agenda of the Marcos administration,” NUP chairperson Ronaldo Puno said.
A separate statement from the NPC noted that the successes of the Marcos administration is largely due to Romualdez, who “worked closely with the President in realizing the administration’s Eight-Point Socio-Economic Agenda.”
“We continue and remain committed to be part of Speaker Romualdez’s supermajority coalition in the House of Representatives to better the Philippines’ standing on poverty alleviation and job generation,” Deputy Speaker Kristine Singson Ilocos Sur and Rizal Rep. Jack Duavit of NPC said in a joint statement.
The PCFI headed by House appropriations panel chairperson and Ako-Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co said the coalition remains a staunch partner of the supermajority.
“We laud Speaker Romualdez for his exemplary leadership, which was marked by a compassionate and fair treatment of partly-list organizations that were considered second-class solons in past Congresses,” Co said in a statement.
In a statement Thursday night, Macapagal-Arroyo denied rumors that she was plotting to oust Romualdez.
PDP-Laban, the Nacionalista Party, and the minority bloc earlier reaffirmed their support to Romualdez and the Marcos administration.