DEPUTY Speaker and Quezon Rep. David Suarez revealed on Saturday that 240 out of 315 elected members of the House of Representatives have signed a manifesto supporting the continued speakership of Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez.
“Tapos na. The Speaker has the numbers,” Suarez said, calling it a “supermajority.”
The manifesto includes support from various major political blocs—Lakas-CMD, Nacionalista Party, Nationalist People’s Coalition, National Unity Party, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, and the Party-list Coalition.
Despite setbacks in the recent Senate elections for the Alyansa slate, Suarez insisted that trust in his leadership remains firm.
Meanwhile, Vice President Sara Duterte said she encouraged her brother, Davao Rep. Paolo Duterte, to consider running for Speaker or at least for minority leader. No response has been given yet.
Amid rumors that Romualdez’s position is under threat, Suarez said any attempt to unseat him would be unrealistic.
Lawmakers still see Romualdez as President Marcos’s strong and reliable ally, capable of pushing the Bagong Pilipinas agenda.
Despite criticism over the VP’s impeachment, Rep. Robert Ace Barbers pointed out that most Mindanaoan lawmakers who backed it won reelection, dismissing claims it cost Alyansa in the Senate race.
