Speaker Prospero Nograles confirmed tha he is resigning as member and vice chairman of Lakas-Kampi-CMD and will withdraw support for its standard bearer, former national defense chief Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro.

Nograles’ surprise move is expected to trigger a chain reaction of resignations by his close allies in the party that includes Majority Leader Arthur Defensor and Senior Assistant Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II and thus, further aggravating the already precarious poll standing of the administration party’s national candidates.

“At least 30 more congressmen are expected to follow,” a senior staff member of Nograles told the Manila Bulletin."We are now preparing the press statement confirming that the Speaker will resign."

However, Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga maintained that the ruling party will remain solid for Teodoro, adding that the party members that remained loyal to the party have already set aside personal interest for the greater good of the country which is to catapult its standard bearer to the presidency.

“The general perception is that Teodoro is the most qualified candidate with a complete vision for the entire country,” said Barzaga, LKC-Cavite provincial chairman.

Nograles, who is reportedly set to join the campaign of Nacionalista Party standard bearer Sen. Manuel Villar, had complained of an alleged Teodoro snub when the presidential candidate appointed presidential executive assistant Madeline Marfori as head of his campaign team in Davao City.

A senior staff member of the Speaker’s Office in the House of Representatives claimed that Marfori is a “dyed-in-the-wool” supporter of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, arch-rival of the Speaker in Davao City politics.

Nograles is running against Duterte’s daughter, Vice Mayor Sarah Duterte, in the mayoralty
race. The Dutertes are staunch supporters of Liberal Party presidential bet, Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.