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Manila Bulletin devider devider Four aspirants for House Speaker facing tough challenges at home

Four aspirants for House Speaker facing tough challenges at home

Published May 11, 2019 06:04 pm
By Ben Rosario DAVAO CITY – Four of seven congressional bets eyeing the speakership of the 18th Congress are facing tough competition in their respective congressional bids on May 13. The Joint Session of the Senate and the House of Representatives on the extension of Martial Law in Mindanao commences in the Plenary of the Batasang Pambansa on December 13, 2017. (ALVIN KASIBAN / MANILA BULLETIN) (MANILA BULLETIN) Unlike Rep. Lord Allan Jay Velasco (PDP-lLaban, Marindque) and former House Minority Leader Martin Romualdez who are expected to win a seat in the Lower House, , former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez (PDP-Laban, Davao del Norte); former Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano (PDP-Laban, Taguig-Pateros) and Ronaldo Zamora (PDP-Laban, San Juan) are campaigning hard for a victory over their respective opponents. House Majority Leader and Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro is also an expected winner in the second district of Capiz. However, a faction of the Nationalist Unity Party quickly doused cold water on reports that Castro was also interested in joining the speakership contest. Incumbent Davao del Norte Rep. Antonio Floirendo, another candidate for Speaker, is reportedly leading in all poll surveys in his congressional district, but not as convincing as to guarantee his return to the Lower House, it was gathered. Floirendo is facing Vice Governor Alan Dujali of PDP-Laban party. The latter has been getting strong backing from Alvarez in order to defeat the incumbent lawmaker. Velasco is not expected to sweat it out against a little known opponent for the lone congressional of Marinduque. In fact, he was rarely seen campaigning for himself in the province. Instead, Velasco spent most of the time acting as emcee in Hugpong ng Pagbabgo rallies staged in different parts of the country. Romualdez is virtually unchallenged in Tacloban City. He was seen at the miting de avance of HNP held here on Thursday. HNP chairperson and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte has declared support for Velasco and Romualdez in their respective bids to become speaker. However, Velasco has the upper hand in the speakership race after President Duterte raised his hand in Bohol recently in his acknowledgment of the young solon’s bid for the top post in the Lower House. The presidential daughter has disclosed that she will back a speakership candidate who will support the remaining legislative agenda of the Duterte administration. Floirendo, one of the founders of HNP, is also reportedly enjoying the support of the Duterte administration . He declared his bid for speakership early April. Alvarez, Floirendo’s staunch critic, has reportedly vowed to challenge Floirendo for the top Lower House post if he will indeed make a run for it. Cayetano and Zamora are also likely candidates for speakership but they are facing strong political rivals in their respective congressional district. Cayetano is reportedly facing incumbent Rep. Arnel M. Cerafica, while Zamora is being challenged by actor Edu Manzano.
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