The battle for the House Speakership tightens as five new contenders are likely to join the fray that was initially assumed as a showdown between President Arroyo and incumbent Mayor Feliciano Belmonte, who won congressional seats in Pampanga and Quezon City, respectively.

Five veteran legislators have surfaced in the race for Speaker that was supposedly a contest restricted between two former allies.

Quezon Representative Lorenzo Tanada III has volunteered his availability as Liberal Party (LP) bet for speaker.

On the other hand, the Lakas-Kampi-CMD (LKC) is replete with Speaker-material in the persons of Representatives Edcel Lagman of Albay; Pablo Garcia of Cebu; Elpidio Barzaga of Cavite; and Deputy Speaker Simeon Datumanong.

In Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago's view, the 15th Congress will likely be headed by President Arroyo in the Lower House and Senator Manuel “Manny” B. Villar Jr. in the Senate.

“If he (Villar) wants to become Senate President, he will have it,” Santiago told DzBB radio station.
She added: “I’m not so familiar with the House of Representatives, but because President Arroyo is a very brilliant person, she might get the position.”

Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker Ma. Amelita Villarosa and Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga assailed Belmonte for stating the other day that LKC men have been flocking LP to support his candidacy for speaker.

“He should name names. Otherwise, the mayor’s statement should be dismissed as an extension of the disinformation program launched by the opposition during the presidential campaign,” said Villarosa.

Barzaga said that as a former party member, Belmonte should “play fair and by the rules” and stop sowing intrigue within LKC.

Sunday, Belmonte admitted that he is preparing for a clash with Arroyo.

He said that his preparation include doing the “groundwork’’ for his speakership bid where he is presently talking with his party mates about his intention to run against Mrs. Arroyo for the fourth highest position in the country.

With the wide lead of Liberal Party presidential bet Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino in the canvassing of votes, Belmonte expressed confidence that the party will win the speakership of the House of Representatives.

Belmonte also said he strongly believes that Aquino will emerge the officially proclaimed victor of the 2010 presidential race.

“Well, if the Liberal Party gives me the go-signal to try out for the House speakership, definitely I will do it,” he said.

Tañada, who won his second re-election as congressman of Quezon’s 4th District, admitted that LP does not have enough congressmen to win the speakership race.

However, he noted that as the next president’s political party, LP could win the support of majority of House members to catapult one of its members to the chamber’s top post.

There are only about 40 LP men in the winning bracket in congressional races while the ruling LKC has now counted 108 sure seats.

A candidate for speaker must get at least 141 votes to get the position.

Votes can be obtained by forming coalitions with party-list groups and other political parties such as the Nacionalista Party (NP) that has been assured 27 seats and the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) with 32. (With a report from Hannah L. Torregoza)