The Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) is looking to expand its membership in the House of Representatives as it is expected to go full blast behind the speakership bid of its president, Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez.
Zamboanga Sibugay 1st district Rep. Wilter “Sharky” Palma II, the party’s deputy secretary general, said in a statement Friday, June 3 the Lakas-CMD leadership is considering welcoming newly-elected House members into its fold.
Last Wednesday, the House declared the sine die adjournment of the 18th Congress, wherein Romualdez served as the majority leader for the past three years.
“Some of our colleagues have expressed their intention to join Lakas-CMD. We are very proud and happy to support our president to become our Speaker in the next Congress,” Palma said.
Lakas-CMD earlier formally endorsed Romualdez for the top House position, with no less than the party’s president emeritus, comebacking Pampanga 2nd district Rep. and former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo asking party stalwarts to carry the Leyte solon to the speakership.
The endorsement was contained in Resolution No. 05, Series of 2022, which the party’s executive committee approved.
The resolution was signed by committee members led by Vice President-elect Sara Duterte and Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr., who co-chair the party.
In its resolution, Lakas-CMD believes Romualdez, “can lead the House of Representatives into being an effective partner of the incoming (Marcos) administration.”
The party resolved to endorse and support the outgoing majority leader “to run for and be voted as Speaker in the 19th Congress".
Other parties that have declared their support for Romualdez include the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan, National Unity Party, Nacionalista Party, Liberal Party, Party-list Coalition Foundation, Inc., Hugpong ng Pagbabago, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, Nationalist People’s Coalition, independents, and the group of neophytes solons.
Romualdez’s endorsers now comprise an overwhelming majority of the members of the incoming House.
Pundits said he would be an asset to the administration of President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. because of his “legislative prowess” in shepherding the approval of important pieces of legislation.