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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Romualdez Speakership backers now 291, VP Duterte ally one of them

Romualdez Speakership backers now 291, VP Duterte ally one of them

Published Jul 24, 2025 12:15 pm  |  Updated Jul 24, 2025 03:42 pm

At A Glance

  • Even more 20th Congress House members have signed a manifesto of support for the continued Speakership of Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez, including a known ally of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez (left), Vice President Sara Duterte (PPAB)
Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez (left), Vice President Sara Duterte (PPAB)


Even more 20th Congress House members have signed a manifesto of support for the continued Speakership of Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez, including a known ally of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Iloilo 1st district Rep. Janette Garin, in a virtual press conference Thursday, July 24, said Davao Occidental lone district Rep. Claude Bautista has signed up to support Romualdez.
Bautista served as one of two campaign managers of then-Davao City mayor Duterte when she vied for the position of vice 0resident in 2022. The other campaign manager was Romualdez.
Romualdez--president of the dominant Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party--and Vice President Duterte have since had a falling out over political issues.
According to Garin, a total of 291 House members have signed the manifesto for Romualdez. This is a noticeable uptick from the 283 signatories that were reported the past few weeks.
There are at least 314 members of the lower chamber in the 20th Congress.
"Napakalaking numero po niyan...medyo overwhelming yung pagpapakita ng suporta (That’s a very big number...the show of support is somewhat overwhelming)," Garin said.
"Kitang kita no, very clear that Congressman Martin Romualdez will be the next Speaker of the 20th Congress," she added.
The Speakership vote will be held on Monday, July 28, in the morning House session before President Marcos' State of the Nation Address (SONA).
The House of Representatives has an active impeachment complaint against Vice President Duterte.
Consensus-builder
Garin says the other signatories in the manifesto proves that Romualdez--also the 19th Congress Speaker--is a true-blue consensus-builder in the House.
She said they include Pampanga 2nd district Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, a former president and House Speaker; and Negros Occidental 3rd district Rep. Javi Benitez, son of Bacolod lone district Rep. Albee Benitez, a known power broker.
"So if you look at the profile of those who signed and manifested their support for Congressman Romualdez to be the continuing Speaker of the 20th Congress, makikita mo doon all sectors, all aspects (you can all sectors, all aspects).
"It simply shows Congressman Martin's being a consensus-builder, yung kanyang leadership na nakikinig (his leadership that listens)," she said.
"The 20th Congress will have a leader who is not only a consensus-builder but somebody who listens and puts his words into action," she added.
Garin says she expects the 20th Congress to be "colorful", but at the same time serious in its task, especially oversight.
"Yung pag-exercise namin ng oversight powers ay hindi hihintuan (We will not stop exercising our oversight powers). We will even expand that."
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