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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Sandro Marcos 'very much qualified' to be House majority leader, says Ortega

Sandro Marcos 'very much qualified' to be House majority leader, says Ortega

Published Jul 17, 2025 11:57 am

At A Glance

  • La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega believes that presidential son Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep. Sandro Marcos is "very much qualified" to take on the role of House majority leader in the nascent 20th Congress.
La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega (left), Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep. Sandro Marcos (Facebook)
La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega (left), Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep. Sandro Marcos (Facebook)


La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega believes that presidential son Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep. Sandro Marcos is "very much qualified" to take on the role of House majority leader in the nascent 20th Congress.
Ortega had this to say in a press conference Thursday, July 17 when he was asked about the contenders for the lofty post.
"The name of the SDML has been floated around, si Cong Sandro. He is very much qualified," he said.
SDML means senior deputy majority leader, which is Rep. Marcos' position in the previous 19th Congress. The previous Congress was Rep. Marcos' first term as a legislator.
Ortega says he has heard of Rep. Marcos' name being bandied about in the news and blind items in media.
"Pero titignan po natin. Mahirap naman po na magbato ng mga pangalan...Marami pong magagaling at qualified sa kahit anong position (But we will see. It's hard to just throw names around...there are a lot of good and qualified solons for any position)," said Ortega, a deputy majority leader during the 19th Congress.
He said he and Rep. Marcos used to work together under the House Committee on Rules.
In the House, the majority leader is the right-hand man of the Speaker. The likely Speaker of the 20th Congress is Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez, one of Rep. Marcos's mentors.
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