And just like that, the speakership race in the House of Representatives is settled.
Presumptive president Bongbong Marcos--in a thanksgiving dinner with friends and staff on Friday night, May 13--gave his explicit endorsement of Majority Leader and Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez as the House Speaker in the upcoming 19th Congress.
Romualdez, the president of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) party, is Marcos's cousin.
A video sent to the Manila Bulletin showed UniTeam bet Marcos talking about the success of their campaign that has led to what appears to be his impressive victory in the May 9 elections.
"Of course how can I talk about this without talking about ang ginawa ng tulong ng Lakas, at syempre headed ng ating (the help given by Lakas, of course headed by our) majority floor leader, Congressman Martin, who looks to be set to be the next speaker," Marcos said. His remarks were met with a loud applause.
A House Speaker is elected by members of the House of Representatives at the start of any given Congress. Traditionally, the House members or congressmen go by the choice of the sitting president when it comes to electing their speaker.
The current 18th Congress will end on June 2. The House members will elect their speaker on the day that Marcos will deliver his first State of the Nation Address (SONA), which would fall in late July 2022.
Well-liked and highly respected by his solon-colleagues, Romualdez was a strong contender for the House's top post in the 18th Congress, but ultimately settled for the position of majority leader.
Romualdez and his wife, Tingog Party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez were present at the thanksgiving dinner.
Former First Lady Imelda Marcos, Bongbong's mother, was also present.