Jockeying for House and Senate leadership starts

MANILA — With just over six weeks before the final adjournment of the 18th Congress, Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez appeared poised to become the next Speaker of t he House of Representatives.

In the Senate, senators declined to discuss leadership of the chamber in the upcoming 19th Congress, but Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri, Cynthia

Villar and Sherwin Gatchalian are supposedly eyeing the Senate presidency.

Four o f t h e s i x key political blocs in the House have backed Romualdez’ bid and former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, re-elected representative of Pampanga’s first district, has also declared her support.

M a c a p a g a l - A r r o y o ’ s support is important because she was chosen Speaker when representatives ousted then Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez during the 17th Congress in 2018, and there was speculation she was again eyeing the position.

Arroyo s c otched t he speculations on Saturday by releasing a statement.

“I am throwing my support for Majority Leader Martin Romualdez to be elected as

House Speaker in the next Congress. I urge all members of our party to do the same,” referring to the Lakas- CMD, of which she is chairperson emeritus.

Aside from Lakas- CMD, several other political blocs also threw their support behind Romualdez, the first cousin of presumptive president Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Composed of 49 female cadets and 165 male cadets, the “Bagsik Diwa” (Bagong Sibol sa Kinabukasan Didigma Hanggang sa Wakas) class members received their Bachelor of Science degrees in National Security Management.

The PMA said 105 will join the Army, 52 will join the Air Force, and 57 will serve in the Navy. ( Vincent Cabreza © Philippine Daily Inquirer 2022)