The race for Speaker of the House of Representatives in the 20th Congress appeared to be a foregone issue with no serious challenge against reelected Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin G. Romualdez.
Meanwhile, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri expressed support for the possible comeback of Senator Vicente Sotto III as President of the Senate.
“The question of Speakership has already been resolved many, many weeks ago,” according to reelected Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre, citing the broad base of support Romualdez held among their peers.
Acidre said 283 members of the House have formally pledged backing for Romualdez’s reelection as Speaker.
“And I don’t think this is any more a question that needs to be resolved,” Acidre said.
The House is set to formally elect its new leaders when the 20th Congress convenes on July 28.
Romualdez served as Speaker of the House in the 19th Congress, presiding over landmark legislation and budget deliberations, and was widely credited for aligning the chamber’s priorities with the Marcos administration’s socioeconomic agenda.
His allies expect him to maintain this legislative momentum in the new Congress.
Asked directly if there is any challenger for the House leadership post, Acidre implied there was none.
He explained that with the numbers already in Romualdez’s favor, the scenario on the morning of July 28 is unlikely to feature any drama.
Many view the early consolidation of support as a stabilizing force for the legislative agenda of the Marcos administration.
Acidre emphasized that the focus now is on the first regular session, which includes tackling legislative priorities such as the national budget, economic reform bills and oversight matters.
“Our support for Congressman Martin Romualdez to be the next speaker of the House remains strong as ever,” Acidre said.
Zubiri, a former Senate president himself, said he was not satisfied with the leadership of incumbent Senate President Francis Escudero, while expressing hopes that the latter would be replaced in the next Congress.
“If you ask me, I’m a leader of the Senate who keeps protecting the integrity, the traditions of the Senate. I don’t a leader of the dictatorial type. I don’t want us to be similar to other chambers where it is only one emperor who dictates all the instructions to the members of the body,” Zubiri said in an interview.
“And if you ask me, I’m not satisfied with the leadership of the Senate, so I am open to supporting other candidates for Senate presidency,” he added.
According to Zubiri, a “veteran bloc” will be formed in the 20th Congress, which will be composed Sotto, and Senators Loren Legarda, and Panfilo Lacson, and himself.
However, Escudero appeared to retain support in the Senate, according to Senator Joel Villanueva.
“I am confident because I’ve talked to at least a majority of the senators,” Villanueva told reporters.
He said at least 13 senators have expressed support for Escudero to remain Senate president, though he did not provide an exact number.