Speaker to keep seat with backing of 95% of members

MANILA, Philippines — There will be no disruption in the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Marcos on July 24 that can lead to the ouster of Speaker Martin Romualdez, a ranking congressman said on Friday.

“I don’t think that there will be a storm during the SONA, just like what happened in 2018 … This time around, I don’t think that it will ever happen,” Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel said in an interview with OneNews’ “The Chiefs.”

He was referring to the “chaos” in July 2018 when then speaker Pantaleon Alvarez was ousted by Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo moments before then president Rodrigo Duterte delivered his SONA.

Pimentel, who is secretary general of the PDP-Laban, said Romualdez has the support of the “super majority coalition” comprising 95 percent of members of the House of Representatives.

“The leadership of Speaker Martin is very, very stable.  The support of the congressmen coming from the different political parties is very, very strong,” he said.

As a witness to challenges to the House leadership during the 17th and 18th Congresses, he said he could tell the 19th Congress is the “most stable.”

It was in the 17th Congress when Arroyo replaced Alvarez while 15 months into the 18th Congress, then Taguig representative Alan Peter Cayetano was ousted by then speaker Lord Allan Velasco.

“As far as I am concerned, this is the most stable Congress in the three terms that I have been in Congress.  Nothing will happen, believe me. I will bet on that,” he said.

Pimentel also cited the alliance of the ruling Lakas-CMD with other parties like the National Unity Party, Nacionalista Party, Nationalist People’s Coalition, the PDP-Laban, as well as with 55 party-list members and 11 independent congressmen.

On allegations that Arroyo was plotting to oust Romualdez, Pimentel said the issue had already been settled.

“I believe, as far as that issue is concerned, that has already been settled… In fact, after that we would say a small ripple in Congress, the tension already had been defused,” he added.

He also expressed belief there is nothing serious about the reported rift between the Speaker and Vice President Sara Duterte, who resigned from Lakas-CMD in May.

“As far as I know, the Speaker was the campaign manager of Vice President Sara.  But anyway we hope, and we pray, if ever there is something within this quote unquote ‘riff’ that is happening, it will be settled soon,” he maintained.

Pimentel said such tension in politics is just “part and parcel of a democratic process.”

“So it is very clear. We are united and 95 percent of the congressmen not only support the Speaker but the entirety – what has to be done to improve the economy, to uplift the lives of the Filipinos. In short, everything we work together to support, whatever direction the President wants to bring us,” he added.