MANILA, Philippines — Incoming speaker Martin Romualdez swore in 23 new Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrat members last Thursday, growing his party’s political force in the House of Representatives to 50 when the 19th Congress starts on July 25.
“We are elated that our colleagues chose to be with us in Lakas-CMD. We look forward to having a fruitful engagement with them and sharing the values and advocacies we have followed and pursued as one of the biggest political parties in the country,” Romualdez said after their oath-taking at party headquarters in Mandaluyong City.
The reelected Leyte congressman has been officially endorsed by the party for speaker of the 19th Congress (2022-2025).
He said the 23 new Lakas-CMD members in the House are seen to boost the party’s support for the legislative agenda of president-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The new members are Reps. David Suarez (Quezon), Patrick Michael Vargas (Quezon City), Dean Asistio (Caloocan City), Faustino Dy V (Isabela), Marlyn Alonte (Biñan City, Laguna), Emmarie Ouano-Dizon (Mandaue City), Cheeno Almario (Davao Oriental);
Francisco Jose Matugas II (Surigao del Norte), Samier Tan (Sulu), Jurdin Jesus Romualdo (Camiguin), Dimple Mastura (Maguindanao), Christopherson Yap (Southern Leyte), Irwin Tieng (Manila), Midy Cua (Quirino), Ernix Dionisio (Manila); and
Edsel Galeos (Cebu), Jinky Bitrics Luistro (Batangas), Arnan Panaligan (Oriental Mindoro), Doris Maniquiz (Zambales), Joseph Tan (Isabela), Faustino Michael Carlos Dy III (Isabela), Jojo Lara (Cagayan) and Steve Solon (Sarangani).
Those who took their oath in person before Romualdez were Vargas, Dionisio, Tieng, Asistio, Tan, Inno Dy, Cua, Maniquiz, Yap, Romualdo, Almario and Tan. The rest had signed their oath of membership.
Camiguin governor-elect Xavier Jesus Romualdo, incoming Santiago City, Isabela mayor Alyssa Sheena Tan and Zamboanga City mayor John Dalipe also joined the Lakas-CMD’s in-person oath-taking.
With nearly all members of the incoming House endorsing him, Romualdez is almost assured of the speakership when the next Congress convenes on July 25 – also the date of Marcos Jr.’s first State of the Nation Address (SONA).
The other political party-endorsers of Romualdez include PDP-Laban, National Unity Party, Nationalist People’s Coalition, Nacionalista Party, Hugpong ng Pagbabago, Party-List Coalition Foundation Inc., other parties, independents and the group of neophyte or first-term lawmakers.