Solons upbeat on ‘next Speaker’

Lawmakers have expressed confidence that former Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, whom presidential daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio declared will be the next Speaker, will be able to steer “a more productive and responsive” House of Representatives.

“Undoubtedly he [Romualdez] is very much competent to lead the House given his track record as lawyer and public servant,” House Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez said.

“He is going to be a good Speaker,” he added.

On Wednesday, Duterte-Carpio introduced Romualdez as “the next Speaker of the House” during a campaign caravan of the Hugpong ng Pagbabago in Tacloban City.

Romualdez, president of the Philippine Constitution Association, served as the leader of the House’s Independent Bloc during his nine-year term in Congress from 2007 to 2016.

Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III also heaped praises on Romualdez.

“He is a good and brilliant lawyer who never lost a case. He is also fair and a charming gentleman,” he said.

Former Speaker and Quezon City Rep. Feliciano Belmonte Jr. cited his former colleague’s “good leadership qualities.”

“During my speakership, he headed the independent minority group yet proved to be supportive and helped me in pushing important measures,” Belmonte said.

Romualdez, a lawyer and a banker, earlier thanked the presidential daughter for the trust and confidence in him.

“I was humbled by the mere mention of my name,” he said.

READ: Inday Sara endorses Romualdez speakership bid

READ: Romualdez is next Speaker–Sara​