Supermajority shaping up as 260 solons back Alvarez

A supermajority of pro-Duterte congressmen has started to shape up as defections and coalition agreements supportive of the speakership bid of Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez has now grown to 260 out of the 290 estimated members of the House of Representatives.

Yesterday, the Party-list Coalition composed of at least 39 party-list nominees of proclaimed party-list group winners signed a Coalition Agreement with Alvarez and incoming Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, secretary general and vice president of PDP-Laban, which is chaired by incoming President Rodrigo Duterte.

In the past two days, PDP-Laban membership rose from only three as a good number of incumbent and incoming congressmen jumped ship.

At the Manila Peninsula, Alvarez swore in new party members: proclaimed winning Reps. Alo Malapitan of Caloocan City, Bingbong Crisologo of Quezon City, and Federico Sandoval of Navotas, and incumbent Reps. Ferdinand Hernandez of South Cotabato, Chicoy Alvarez of Palawan, Estrellita Suansing, and Bambol Tolentino.

On Tuesday, the following were sworn in as new PDP-Laban members: Reps. Khaled Dimaporo, Rubh Sahali, Mauyag Papandayan, Peter Unabia, Horacio Suansing, Jorge Almonte, Mayo Albaryo, Walter Palma II, Maximo Rodriguez, Rogelio Pacquiao, Jesus Celeste, Mylene Albano, Ronaldo Zamora, and outgoing Pangasinan Governor Amado Espino.

Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas, who has the support of many congressmen to be the next majority leader, has also joined PDP-Laban.

At the Rembrandt Hotel, the so-called Solid North composed of congressmen from Regions I and II signed a manifesto of support for Duterte and the speakership bid of Alvarez.

Leading the signatories were Reps. Rodito Albano, Eric Singson, Imelda Romualdez Marcos, and Fariñas. Other signatories include Bulacan Rep. Linabelle Ruth Villarica, Fariñas, Isabela Rep. Ana Cristina Go, Quirino Rep. Dakila Cua, Benguet Rep. Ronald Cosalan, Cagayan Rep. Randolph Ting, Pangasinan Rep. Marlyn Primicias Agabas, Pangasinan Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil, Cagayan Rep. Baby Aline Alfonso, Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop, Mountain Province Rep. Maximo Dalog, Anac-IP Rep. Jose Panganiban, Isabela Rep. Napoleon Dy, Abono Rep. Conrad Estrella III, Ilocos Sur Rep. Deogracias Victor “DV” Savellano, Abra Rep. Joseph Bernos, Pangasinan Rep. Christopher de Venecia (son of outgoing Rep. Gina de Venecia), La Union Rep. Sandra Eriguel, and Pangasinan Rep. Rosemarie “Baby” Arenas.

In a coalition agreement, the Partylist Coalition vowed to “constructively cooperate in pushing for the legislative agenda” of the incoming Duterte administration.

Incoming Rep. Mikee Romero (1Pacman) said the party-list group is expected to draw more members who will be supportive of Duterte and Alvarez.