Next Speaker also PDP ace

I am humbled and honored by the decision of the leadership of PDP to appoint yours truly as party head in the House

The next Speaker in line, Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, received yesterday the most pivotal post as head of the dominant party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) at the House of Representatives.

In a statement, the solon said he is honored to be named leader of President Rodrigo Duterte’s party.

“I am humbled and honored by the decision of the leadership of PDP to appoint yours truly as party head in the House of Representatives,” Velasco indicated.

“This fresh step by the party leadership is a welcome development, as this will further strengthen unity and camaraderie among PDP members,” he added.

Velasco will become the House of Representatives’ chief after Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano ends his 15-month term.

With him at its helm, he said PDP members will move as one in supporting the legislative agenda of the President.

PDP remains the strongest bloc in the House with 69 members. The ruling party had 84 members after the national elections last May.

Just recently, at least 12 of its members joined the National Unity Party (NUP), the party which solidly backed the speakership bid of Cayetano.

NUP rising

NUP now has 57 members, while the Lakas CMD Party, chaired by House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, has 11 members.

According to PDP stalwart Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, Velasco was picked as party leader considering that he will be the next Speaker.

“It was the decision of the party leadership of PDP,” Pimentel told the Daily Tribune.

“We already planned to strengthen, solidify, unite the PDP and this was one of the results of our meetings to choose a member to lead in the lower and upper chamber,” he added, when asked if the PDP’s move seeks to address the possible transfer of other lawmakers to other parties.

Pimentel said PDP members agreed to hold monthly meetings and fellowships to foster camaraderie among its members.

Pacman plays central role

For the Senate, the ruling party picked Senator Manny Pacquiao as its leader as the PDP is stemming the exodus of its members to other parties.

The PDP has former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, Pacquiao and newly-elected Senators Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, Ronald de la Rosa and Francis Tolentino in its ranks that gives it five of 24 seats.

This fresh step by the party leadership is a welcome development.

The exodus from the PDP had sparked a loyalty check among its members and prompted Pimentel, vice chairman Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, and other party leaders to tap Pacquiao and Velasco to stop the bloodletting.

Pimentel said he is confident that Pacquiao and Velasco can do the job, saying they are loyal not just to the party but to the Filipino people.

The PDP president also expressed his appreciation to all its members who stayed loyal to the party.

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