Pro-administration congressmen believe that Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) President and Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez will retain the House Speakership in the upcoming 20th Congress.

This, as House Deputy Speaker Quezon 2nd district Rep. David "Jay-Jay" Suarez and Quezon 1st district Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga downplayed on Friday, May 16 rumors of potential challengers to the top post in the House of Representatives.

Following the May 12 mid-term elections, rumors swirled that Navotas City lone district Rep. Toby Tiangco, campaign manager of the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial slate; and incoming Bacolod City lone district Rep. Albee Benitez, a known power broker in the Visayas, were eyeing the Speakership.

Romualdez will end his three-year term as Speaker on June 13 upon the sine die adjournment of the current 19th Congress. With their fresh mandates, the House members will reconvene in July to elect new officers.

"We believe in the past three years that we have seen the performance of the House. We have seen how we can deliver to the legislative agenda of our President," said Suarez, a Lakas-CMD stalwart, during an interview with Enverga at Makati Shangri-La Hotel.

"And we have also seen how we can manage our leadership. You may issues that our country faces. So, we believe and believe that karamihan sa atin na continuity ang mahalaga para sa Kongreso (to most of us, continuity in Congress is important) and we're fully supportive behind the leadership of Speaker Martin," added Suarez.

Enverga, a member of Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), also envisioned Romualdez as the Speaker of the next Congress. 

"I believe that of course we are still committed to the--our--we signed the manifesto of supporting the presidential--so we have the support to the President BBM (Bongbong Marcos). With is a legislative agenda," he said.

"So, we believe that si Speaker Martin, will continue his term as Speaker. I guess, so it's a matter of discussing it, siguro (maybe), in the coming month or sooner na. So, it will continue," Enverga said.

Both Suarez and Enverga said they weren't aware of any rumors of other Speakership contenders aside from Romualdez.

Romualdez won his third and final term as congressman in last Monday's mid-term polls.