MANILA — At least three House leaders believe Lakas-CMD President and Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez will continue to be the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the 20th Congress.

House Deputy Speaker and Quezon 2nd District Representative David “Jayjay” Suarez said majority of the members of the House of Representatives are “fully supportive” of Romualdez’s leadership.

He stressed the importance of “continuity” in pushing for the legislative agenda of the administration.

“I don’t think there is any change in leadership that will happen in the House… Wala po kaming nakikitang ganoon, so far,” Suarez said.

“Papasok ka talaga sa bagong Kongreso… ang daming pangalan na babanggitin. Kaso lang sa amin sa Lakas, we’re the dominant majority party. Kung hindi ako nagkakamali, we have around 105 elected congressmen, and we are 100% behind the leadership of Speaker Martin Romualdez, of course under the banner of continuity,” he added.

 “Naniniwala naman tayo sa nakalipas na tatlong taon, nakita naman natin ‘yung performance ng House, nakita natin kung paano tayo naka-deliver sa legislative agenda ng ating pangulo, at nakita natin kung paano na-manage ng leadership ang issues na hinaharap ng ating bansa. Buong tiwala po ang karamihan sa atin na continuity ang mahalaga para sa Kongreso. We’re fully supportive behind the leadership of Speaker Martin Romualdez,” Suarez noted.

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Nationalist People’s Coalition Spokesperson and Quezon 1st District Representative Mark Enverga shared Suarez’s view.

“We are still committed… we signed a manifesto supporting the President BBM with his legislative agenda. So we believe that si Speaker Martin will continue his term as Speaker… I think tuloy naman ito,” Enverga said.

He and Suarez have yet to hear of other possible contenders for the Speakership in the 20th Congress.

House Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo 3rd District Representative Lorenz Defensor of the National Unity Party, has also not received any formal invitation or request to support a change in House leadership.

Defensor said he continues to support Romualdez, noting that “unless the administration has someone else in mind”, he does not see anyone challenging Romualdez.

“I continue to support the leadership of Speaker Martin Romualdez,” the Iloilo solon said.

“Until now, I have not seen any serious contender expressing their intention to run as Speaker of the House of Representatives. So, we leave it at that. Unless the administration has someone else in mind, I don't see anyone seriously challenging Speaker Martin Romualdez for the 20th Congress,” he added.

Political party leaders at the House of Representatives met on Friday in Makati City, but Suarez denied it is a “loyalty check”, saying it is more of a  “meet and greet” following the midterm polls.

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 IMPEACHMENT

Whether there would be a change of leadership in either houses of Congress, the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte shall continue, according to Suarez and Defensor.

“Once an impeachment complaint is filed with the Senate, there's already an impeachment trial whether we like it or not,” Defensor said.

“I think they (Senators) are constitutionally mandated to receive the articles (of impeachment) and act as the Senate of the Philippines transitioning into an impeachment court,” Suarez added.

But Defensor said if a new House leader is not supportive of the prosecution, it could affect the team’s “degree of preparation” and “desire to pursue a conviction”.

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“It will affect the degree or desire that the members of House of Representatives who signed the impeachment complaint on how bent they are in pursuing a conviction” he said. In the meantime, House prosecutors have resumed preparations for the impeachment trial, and the evidence for the first article of impeachment is ready.

“We have continued our preparations for the impeachment trial. (00:41) The documentary evidence as well as the testimonies of witnesses have been prepared insofar as Article 1 is concerned.” Defensor said.