The endorsements for speakership keep pouring in for Majority Leader and Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez.
On Saturday, May 14, the Party-list Coalition Foundation, Inc. (PCFI) endorsed Romualdez for the speakership in the upcoming 19th Congress. The PCFI members did so during a gathering of the group in Makati City.
"We, the Partylist Representatives elected for the 19th Congress, hereby affix our signatures in this joint statement to endorse Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (Leyte, 1st District) for Speaker in the 19th Congress. We recognize the vital role played by Rep. Martin Romualdez, in his capacity as House Majority Leader for three years, in making the 18th Congress one of the most productive ever. His work ethic and proven ability as consensus builder enabled the House of Representatives to enact important pieces of legislation that shielded our economy and our people from the devastating effects of a global pandemic," read a manifestation of support prepared and signed by the party-list congressmen.
"We firmly believe that Rep. Martin Romualdez, once elected Speaker of the 19th Congress, will be able to unite different political parties in the House of Representatives in support of the incoming President's legislative agenda. We also issue this statement to pledge our commitment in support of the legislative agenda to be presented by President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos, Jr. in the opening of the 19th Congress on the fourth Monday of July this year," they added.
Present during the event along with the party-list solons was Romualdez's protégé, Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep. Sandro Marcos.
Rep. Marcos is the eldest son of presumptive president Bongbong Marcos, who is the cousin go the Leyte lawmaker.
According to the PCFI lawmakers, Romualdez, the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) president, would be able to answer the call of the nation for laws and policies that will aid the recovery of the economy, and ultimately, the betterment of the nation.
Described as a consensus-builder and noteworthy for his cool and calm demeanor, Romualdez represented the notion of stability in the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic-rocked 18th Congress.
He guided the House members with his steady hand even as the speakership underwent tumultuous times with a changing of the guard between Taguig-Pateros 1st district Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque lone district Rep. Lord Allan Velasco.
Meanwhile, the PCFI members also announced Saturday that it has picked Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co as its next president.
Deputy Speaker and 1-Pacman Party-list Rep. Mikee Romero is the incumbent president of PCFI, which is the biggest and among the more influential political blocs in the House of Representatives in the 18th Congress.
"We, the Party-list representatives elected for the 19th Congress, hereby affix our signatures in this joint statement to commit ourselves in support of Rep. Elizaldy Co (Ako Bicol) for President of the Party-list coalition in the House of Representatives. With Rep. Co leading our coalition, we are one in the belief that the Party-list representatives will unite as a solid group and a potent bloc in Congress- a move necessary to push for advocacies that our respective constituents expect from us," read a second manifestation from the group.
"We also issue this statement to pledge our commitment in support of the legislative agenda to be presented by President F erdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. in the opening of the 19th Congress on the fourth Monday of July this year," it added.