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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Election of 28 deputy speakers defended as a 'move in the right direction'

Election of 28 deputy speakers defended as a 'move in the right direction'

Published Dec 9, 2020 07:23 pm

Deputy Speaker and Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez on Wednesday lauded the decision of the House of Representatives leadership to appoint additional deputy speakers, saying that the move will guarantee equal representation of all regions and political parties in the country.

Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez
(FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)

On Monday, nine House members were given deputy speakership posts while two, Reps. Aurelio Gonzales (PDP-Laban, Pampanga) and Johnny Pimentel (PDP-Laban, Surigao del Sur), were relieved of the position.
Also stripped of deputy speakership roles, following Speaker Lord Allan Velasco’s takeover of the House leadership, were Reps. Luis Raymund Villafuerte (NP, Camarines Sur); Raneo Abu (NP, Batangas) and Dan Fernandez (NUP, Laguna). 

All five former deputy speakers were allies of former speaker and Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano.

Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte, eldest son of President Duterte, resigned as deputy speaker to accept the chairmanship of the House Committee on Accounts. 

“We have imperial Manila always, and so therefore Speaker Lord Allan Velasco deems it necessary to make sure that there is representation from the 16 regions,” Rodriguez told House reporters.

Rodriguez described the appointment of additional deputy speakers as a "move in the right direction.

The recent appointments brought to 28 the total number of deputy speakers in the chamber, the largest since the position was created in 1922. 

During the 17th Congress, a total 16 deputy speakers were elected.

The current list of deputy speakers includes six partylist solons, namely, Deputy Speakers Michael Romero (1Pacman Partylist); Conrado Estrella (ABONO); Eduardo “Bro. Eddie” Villanueva (CIBAC); Rodante Marcoleta (SAGIP); Lito Atienza (Buhay) and Bernadette Herrera (Bagong Henerasyon).

Romero has been designated deputy speaker for political affairs of the chamber. He also is the incumbent president of the Partylist Coalition Foundation Inc. and was widely credited for the grant of significant role for partylist solons in lawmaking.

By area: Region 1: Deputy Speakers Rosemarie Arenas (Pangasinan), Deogracias Victor Savellano (Ilocos Sur) and Kristine Meehan (Ilocos Sur);   Region III -- Juan Pablo “Rimpy” Bondoc (Pampanga); Region IV-A -- Roberto Puno (Antipolo City) and Vilma Santos-Recto (Batangas); Region IV-B - Paulino Salvador Leachon (Mindoro Oriental); Region  V -- Evelina Escudero (Sorsogon); Region VI -- Loren Legarda (Antique) ; Region VII - Pablo John  Garcia (Cebu) and Arnolfo Teves (Negros Oriental); Region IX -- Divina Grace Yu (Zamboanga del Sur,); Region X --  Henry Oaminal, (Misamis Occidental) 1st District) and Rufus Rodriguez (Cagayan de Oro City); Region XII -- Ferdinand Hernandez (South Cotabato) and Rogelio “Ruel” Pacquiao (Sarangani), Region XIII -- Prospero Pichay Jr, (Surigao Del Sur) and Mujiv Hataman (BARMM)

Metro Manila is represented by Deputy Speakers Neptali Gonzales (Mandaluyong City);  Eric Martinez (Valenzuela City);  Wesley Gatchalian (Valenzuela City) and Bienvenido Abante (Manila). 

Regions II, VIII, XI and the Cordillera Region have no representation for deputy speaker.

In terms of political affiliation, PDP-Laban has nine deputy speakers; Nationalist People’s Coalition, National Unity Party, three; Nacionalista Party, three, Lakas-CMD, one, and Liberal Party, one.

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