Visayan Bloc remains intact in congress
June 16-22, 2019
The 45-strong Visayan bloc will vote as one for the new speaker of the House speaker in the 18th Congress, according to outgoing Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez.
Benitez, who is the convenor of the Visayan Bloc, however refused to reveal their candidate for speakership, as they are scheduled to again next month.
Abang Lingkod Rep. Stephen Paduano, however, said that they will support whoever will be supported by President Rodrigo Duterte.
The Visayan Bloc solons were among lawmakers who installed Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the House Speaker during the State of the Nation Address of President Rodrigo Duterte in July last year.
Outgoing Senator Loren Legarda, who was elected as a representative of Antique, added to the list of members of the Visayan Bloc according to Benitez.
Among the candidates for House speakership includes Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez. He is the candidate from Visayas.
Romualdez was the only candidate for the speaker to represent the congressional district of Visayas.
Other candidates are Davao del Norte Pantaleon Alvarez, Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano and Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales.
It’s still anybody’s ball game, Benitez stressed.
The new House speaker is expected to be known on July 22, which is the State of the Nation Address of President Duterte. BB