Lakas to select candidate for speaker today

MANILA, Philippines - Members of the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD will hold a closed door meeting today to select their candidate for speaker of the House of Representatives. Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs Prospero Pichay said the party is considering Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez.

“They (Lagman and Suarez) have to slug it out but we cannot discount the possibility that (Cebu) Congressman Pablo Garcia will also throw his hat into the ring,” Pichay said.

Lagman, Suarez and Pichay are all close to President Arroyo, who was elected representative of Pampanga’s second district.                                                                    

Some members of the party have left for the camp of Quezon City Rep. Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr., who is also expected to try to regain the speakership.                                                                            

Lakas now has only 70 members, down from more than a hundred last month.   Pichay said some left the party when Mrs. Arroyo decided not to seek the House leadership. He said the president just wants to strengthen the party. “Those who remained are those who are really committed,” he said. “We will give them a good fight for the speakership.”