By Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio and Adrian H. Halili, Reporters
THE Liberal Party of the Philippines (LP) has backed House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, solidifying his hold in the chamber amid speculations of potential challenges to his leadership, a congressman said on Sunday.
In a statement, House Deputy Speaker and Quezon Rep. David C. Suarez said that four LP lawmakers signed a declaration of support for Mr. Romualdez, showing a broad consensus across party lines of keeping the President’s cousin as leader of the chamber.
“As of today, 285 House members have expressed support for Speaker Romualdez, with 278 lawmakers having already signed formal declarations — including four out of six members of the LP who are now part of the larger movement for legislative continuity and national stability,” he said, referring to the Liberal Party by its initial.
LP Acting President Lorenzo “Erin” R. Tañada III told BusinessWorld that his party has yet to receive confirmation on which lawmakers have backed Mr. Romualdez.
“I have not gotten any confirmation from our members on who the four are,” he said in a Viber message. “In our last meeting, we decided to table the issue for further discussion.”
Speculations have emerged following the May 12 elections that some lawmakers are positioning themselves for the House Speaker role, a post that wields significant influence over the more than 300 legislators representing congressional districts and sectoral groups nationwide.
Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio last week suggested to Davao City Rep. Paolo Z. Duterte, her brother, to gun for the speakership role in the 20th Congress, which would convene in mid-July.
The political rivalry between the Marcos and Duterte families has escalated ahead of the midterm elections as both camps have been courting politicians to consolidate influence and bolster their respective support bases.
“Speaker Romualdez has earned the trust of the current and incoming members of the House through principled, results-oriented leadership,” said Mr. Suarez. “What we are witnessing is no longer just support from traditional allies — it’s a political groundswell cutting across the entire spectrum.”
He said the “supermajority bloc” backing Mr. Romualdez now includes the LP, adding to a growing coalition of political parties that already comprises the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), Nacionalista Party, National Unity Party, Nationalist People’s Coalition and Partido Federal ng Pilipinas.
SENATE LEADERSHIPThe Senate could also see a leadership change in the new Congress with Senators-elect Maria Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos and Vicente “Tito” C. Sotto III, who was a former Senate President, announcing their bids for the post, currently held by Senate President Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero.
A change in Senate leadership will not lead to any significant change to the government’s policies, but it could increase the chances of Ms. Duterte’s acquittal, analysts said separately.
“A change won’t lead to any significant policy change. The senate will likely still be supportive of the economic agenda of the administration,” Michael Henry Ll. Yusingco, a senior research fellow at the Ateneo de Manila University Policy Center said via Messenger chat.
He added that the Senate is expected to operate in a more “transactional ethos” as dynastic politicians have dominated the upper house.
Hansley A. Juliano, a political science lecturer from the Ateneo de Manila University, likewise said economic policy change is not expected as the competing blocs have no “questions nor alternatives” to neoliberal policies.
He said that Senators will likely be more concerned on whether to align with West (Mr. Marcos) or to China (the Duterte’s). “Neither would be beneficial for the country’s long-term development and independence at this point,” he said in a Messenger chat.
Mr. Juliano added that a Senator seeking the Senate Presidency will need to court the pro-administration and pro-Duterte factions.
“If Mr. Sotto and (Mr. Escudero) will court the Duterte bloc, it would only be proper to think that they will be asked to support the acquittal of (the VP) in the impeachment in exchange of the Duterte bloc’s support,” Arjan P. Aguirre, assistant professor of political science at the Ateneo de Manila University, said in a Messenger chat.
“Should this be the case, the new Senate president will be duty-bound to comply to what has been promised,” he added, noting however that it would be difficult for the Senate leader to be seen as being beholden to the Dutertes with a “strong case” expected from the prosecution panel.
Ms. Duterte, who was impeached by more than 200 congressmen last Feb. 5, is expected to stand trial before the Senate as an impeachment court once her trial commences in July.
The impeachment complaint against the Vice-President includes the misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, acts of destabilization and plotting the assassination of Mr. Marcos, his family, and the Speaker of the House. Ms. Duterte has denied any wrongdoing.
