Amid coup rumors, ranking solon writes glowing testimony on Speaker Romualdez
Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre (left) and House Speaker Martin Romualdez (Facebook)
A high-ranking congressman has attested to the competence and value to the legislature of House Speaker Martin Romualdez amid rumors that there is a plot to unseat him. In a Facebook post Saturday, May 20, Deputy Majority Leader and Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre described Romualdez as a "much-loved mentor and visionary leader". "With his every word and deameanor, Speaker Martin best exemplifies what it means to be a statesman, proving time and again his loyalty to the people by his diligence and hard work," Acidre said. "As Speaker, he continues to bring together politicians of diverse persuasions, and unite them in pursuing an inclusive platform for progress, and in the process, earning the love, respect and loyalty of a supermajority of House members," he added of the Leyte 1st district congressman. "In the most trying political upheavals, which I had the privilege of witnessing firsthand, I would never forget how Speaker Martin would consistently insist, 'Do what would be the best for institution,' and pointing to the House seal, he would say, 'In all we say or do, let that be your constant North Star,'" recalled Acidre. The party-list solon didn't specify which "political upheavals" he was referring to. All eyes are now on the House leadership following Pampanga 2nd district Representative and former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's removal as senior deputy speaker last May 17. Arroyo subsequently addressed rumors that she was planning a coup on Romualdez, and said that being Speaker is no longer part of her "political objectives". Arroyo and Romualdez are the two highest officials of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), the biggest political party in the House of Representatives. In the same Facebook post, Acidre hailed the hardworking nature of the current Speaker. "Thanks to his leadership, in less than a year, he has ensured the passage of 29 out of the 33 priority legislation, and brought the House to a historical high in terms of its approval and satisfaction rating, a feat no other Speaker in recent years has achieved," he said. "As a member of Congress, and as a colleague, mentee and friend, I am proud to work for and with Speaker Martin Romualdez," Acidre further said.