House Majority Leader and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin G. Romualdez said Saturday (Jan. 16) he respects the decision of his friend, Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Mike Defensor to join “BTS sa Kongreso” coalition or “Back to Service”.
(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
“I respect Mike’s diligence, views and opinions, political and otherwise,” the president of Lakas-CMD, said in a statement, two days after the official launch of the coaliton, led by former Speaker and Taguig-Pateros 1st District Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano.
During the coalition' s launch in Quezon City, Defensor, former chairperson of the House Committee on Public Accounts, cited that he is a close ally of Romualdez and an affiliate of the erstwhile administration party Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD).
“Congressman Mike Defensor is a friend, a dear friend. It is also true that he is affiliated with our party, the Lakas-CMD, along other party-list congressmen and congresswomen who we consider as allies in the House of Representatives,” Romualdez said.
Amid the perceived division brought about by the formation of Cayetano's group, the House leader expressed commitment to continuously work with his majority and minority colleagues to shepherd the priority measures of the Duterte administration.
“More than a friend to Mike, I am the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives. It is my duty to work as a leader not only of the majority coalition, but also of the minority and independent House Members," he said.
Cayetano earlier clarified that their coalition is not after the House Speakership and is formed to restore the image of the Lower Chamber, which has supposedly become the House of Politics rather than the House of People.
The other members of the BTS bloc are Reps. Luis Raymund “LRay” Villafuerte Jr, Camarines Sur 2nd District; Dan Fernandez, Laguna 1st District; Raneo Abu, Batangas 2nd District; Mike Defensor, Anakalusugan; Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado, Bulacan 1st District; and Fredenil Castro, Capiz 2nd District.