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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Bong Go-backer sides with Romualdez in Speakership race; but senator's camp says it was her own decision

Bong Go-backer sides with Romualdez in Speakership race; but senator's camp says it was her own decision

Published Jul 27, 2025 11:28 am  |  Updated Jul 27, 2025 10:12 pm

At A Glance

  • A House member aligned with staunch Duterte family ally, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go has formalized her support for the continued Speakership of Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez in the 20th Congress.
Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez (left), Senator Christopher "Bong" Go (Facebook)
Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez (left), Senator Christopher "Bong" Go (Facebook)


A House member aligned with staunch Duterte family ally, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go has formalized her support for the continued Speakership of Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez in the 20th Congress.
A report on Sunday morning, July 27 said that Malasakit@Bayanihan Party-list Rep. Girlie Veloso has signed the manifesto of support for Romualdez, the president of the dominant Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party. He is the cousin of President Marcos.
Malasakit@Bayanihan Party-list is part of Go's vast political network.
Go, the top vote-getter in the Senate race last May, is a longtime ally and confidant of detained former president Rodrigo Duterte.
However, Go's camp took exception to claims made by the party-list solon.
A staff member of Go clarified that Veloso's decision to sign the House manifesto endorsing Romualdez's continued House leadership was a "separate decision of her party-list, and was not related to the Senator (Go) at all."
"Congresswoman Veloso represents the party-list now, and is separate from the Senator ever since," Go's staff told the Manila Bulletin.
And her decision to support Romualdez was purely her "own decision, given her party-list's advocacies, stance, and legislative agenda."
Iloilo 1st district Rep. Janette Garin said last week that Veloso's signing of the manifesto was imminent. With her being a signatory, Veloso will be identified with the pro-Marcos majority bloc in the House.
“This is about lawmakers coming together to keep the institution strong and service-oriented. And we believe that Rep. Romualdez is best equipped to lead us in that direction,” Garin, a Lakas-CMD member, said.
The same report said that a total 293 House members in the 20th Congress have affixed their signatures to the manifesto of support for Romualdez, up from the previously reported 291 last week.
The other solon who recently signed was Taguig City Rep. Jorge Bocobo.
Earlier this month, Veloso attended an inauguration event at East Avenue Medical Center in Diliman, Quezon City on behalf of the popular senator.
"In our ongoing commitment to bring public service closer to the people, I had the distinct honor of being invited and of representing Senator Bong Go today at the inauguration of new life-saving facilities at East Avenue Medical Center, including the Neonatal ICU, Central Endoscopy Unit, and an Oxygen Generating Plant," she wrote on Facebook on July 17.
Veloso is a neophyte congresswoman.
The speakership vote will take place on Monday, July 28, specifically during the morning plenary session of the House of Representatives. President Marcos will deliver his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) later that afternoon at the plenary hall.
Davao Occidental lone district Rep. Claude Bautista, a known ally of administration critic Vice President Sara Duterte, had earlier signed up to support Romualdez.
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