The House of Representatives added another administration solon to its roster of deputy speakers when it elected Cavite Rep. Strike Revilla to the post.
The brother of Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. relinquished his former position as chairman of the House Committee on Housing and Urban Development to become deputy speaker.
The total number of speakers now stand at 30, the most in Congress history since the position was created in 1995 by then Speaker Jose De Venecia Jr.
A debate on the real number of deputy speaker continues to rage as it could not be ascertained whether or not Las Pinas Rep. Camille Villar is still considered one. She declined the appointment hours after it was called out on the floor last month.
The daughter of former Senate President Manuel Villar and incumbent Sen. Cynthia Villar was appointed to replace fellow Nacionalista Party stalwart Batangas Rep. Raneo Abu, a loyal ally of former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, also an NP member.
The House also elected neophyte Negros Occidental Rep. Francisco Benitez to fill vacant position of chairman of the housing and urban development panel. The post used to belong to his brother, former Rep. Alfredo “Albee” Benitez, who reportedly played a significant role in the election of incumbent Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.
Meanwhile, COOP NATCCO Partylist Rep. Sabiniano Canama replaced Saranggani Rep. Rogelio Pacquiao as chairman of the House Special Committee on East Asian Growth Area.
Pacquiao, younger brother of boxing icon and Sen. Manny Pacquiao, has been appointed deputy speaker.
PHILRECA partylist Rep. Presley de Jesus is now the chairman of the House Committee on Cooperatives Development which became vacant as a result of Canama’s departure as chairman.
During his second term as speaker, De Venecia replaced the position of speaker pro tempore to deputy speaker, appoint three of them to cover Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. On paper, the deputy speaker is the second highest position in the chamber.
However, the congressman who holds the post of majority leader is considered as the second most powerful despite ranking third in the leadership hierarchy in the Lower House. Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez is now the majority leader.