House Speaker Martin Romualdez (3rd from left) leads the oathtaking of 19 new Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) members on May 23, 2023. Deputy Speaker and Pampanga 2nd district Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (rightmost) is on hand.

Speaker Martin Romualdez and Deputy Speaker Pampanga 2nd district Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo were together at another event at the House of Representatives Tuesday afternoon, May 23, further suggesting that the issue on the chamber's leadership is over.

The event was the oathtaking of 19 new members--mostly local officials- of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party.

Romualdez, Leyte 1st district congressman; and Arroyo, a former president, sit as party president and chairperson emeritus, respectively.

Before the oathtaking, Romualdez warmly greeted Arroyo as she was accompanied by House colleagues to his office.

Just a few days ago, the hot topic in the House was the alleged coup being hatched by the Pampanga solon against Romualdez.

The rumors began to spread like wildfire on May 17 after the House leadership stripped Arroyo of her senior deputy speaker title, a title that now belongs to Pampanga 3rd district Rep. Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales Jr. of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban)

(Speaker's office)

But the tense atmosphere in the lower chamber began to subside when Arroyo herself participated in Gonzales' oathtaking as senior deputy speaker in plenary Monday, May 22.

Fourteen of the 19 new party members physically attended the oath-taking ceremony while four others submitted their oath of membership as Lakas-CMD.

These were Roberto “Pinpin” Uy Jr., former Zamboanga del Norte governor Roberto Uy Sr., and incumbent Mayors Lorrymir “Rey” Adasa (Mutia), Marissa Manigsaca (Rizal), Rosendo Labadlabad (Sindangan), Allan Ferrater (Jose Dalman), Jose Micheal Meiko Wong (Katipunan), Eugene Caballero (Manukan), Ismael Renquijo Jr.(President Manuel Roxas), Alberto Bongcawel (Siayan), Salvador “Jun” Antojado Jr. (Kalawit), Jelster Ed Tiu Quimbo (Labason), and Norabeth Tuse Carloto (Tampilisan), and Julita, Leyte Councilor Jude Andrei Romualdez.

Meanwhile, Evelyn Uy, and incumbent Mayors Eufracio Caidic (Sibutad), Darel Dexter Uy (Dipolog City), Eddie Justin Quimbo (Gutalac), and Roberto “Jun” Uy Jr. (Liloy) submitted their oath of membership.

“We welcome our new members and we are happy that they affiliated themselves with Lakas-CMD, which has committed itself to support President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his Agenda for Prosperity and eight-point socio-economic development roadmap,” Romualdez said.

He hoped for a "fruitful engagement with those joining our ranks and of course with our existing members".

Lakas-CMD is the largest political party in the House, with 71 stalwarts. It has an estimated 3,200 members nationwide.