SB, other LP stalwarts seen to keep House posts

MANILA, Philippines - Re-elected Liberal Party stalwarts (LP) are likely to retain their posts in the House of Representatives, Majority Leader and Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali Gonzales II said yesterday.

President Aquino, meanwhile, called on his allies to re-elect Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. to lead the chamber again when the 16th regular session of Congress convenes on July 22.

“The likelihood is, at least insofar as LP is concerned, committees held by re-electionists who won will be maintained by them,” Gonzales said.

He said the number of committees that will be allotted to different parties would depend on the number of their members.

Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone said Aquino made the pitch for Belmonte during a luncheon for LP lawmakers in Malacañang yesterday, which was attended by 86 partymates. “It was actually a ‘meet you’ lunch with the LP congressmen,” Evardone said.

“The President endorsed Speaker Belmonte for his leadership in the passage of critical measures like the Reproductive Health bill and the Sin Tax bill, among others,” Evardone said.

There are 110 LP members in the House and the party has forged alliances with other parties to ensure control of the chamber.

These parties include the Centrist Democratic Party, Nacionalista Party, Nationalist People’s Coalition and National Unity Party.

Evardone said the LP would continue to maintain its coalition with other parties.

Expected to challenge Belmonte is Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, the largest opposition party in the House.

But Romualdez is likely to lead the minority bloc because he does not have the numbers to defeat Belmonte.