PDP-Laban to regain speakership — Pimentel

MANILA, Philippines — Buoyed by its successful campaign in the May 13 midterm elections, the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) is poised to secure the leadership of the House of Representatives, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III said yesterday.

Three PDP-Laban members are being eyed to replace former president and Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Pimentel added.

Pimentel, president of PDP-Laban, said out of 234 legislative districts the party secured 80 seats to retain its position as the dominant party in the coming 18th Congress.

“It will be a crying shame if the speakership does not go to a PDP-Laban member. We have a deep bench of very capable and very competent party leaders who are committed to push for President Duterte’s legislative agenda,” he said.

Seen as PDP-Laban frontrunners for speaker are former speaker and Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, who is PDP-Laban secretary general; Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales; and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco.

Victorious in what is considered as a political upset in Davao del Norte’s political history, Alvarez can still make a comeback as speaker because he still has loyal followers in the House, Pimentel said.

Gonzales, the deputy majority leader, is the national deputy campaign manager of PDP-Laban and the party’s regional president for Central Luzon. 

Gonzales is among the most senior members of the House and is considered as the popular choice not only among PDP-Laban members but also those in the majority bloc.

Velasco is also a strong contender for the speakership not only because of his close ties with Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio but also because of his popularity among younger members of the House.