Members of the House of Representatives open the 2nd Regular Session of the 19th Congress on July 24, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File 

MANILA — House Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo 1st District Representative Janette Garin sees no reason to change the leader of the House of Representatives under the 20th Congress.

She issued the statement amid rumors that there will be contenders for the post currently held by the President’s cousin, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, who was reelected representative of Leyte 1st District.

'House supermajority wants Romualdez as Speaker in 20th Congress'

“The general sentiment of most, if not majority of the members of Congress is why fix something that is not broken? At kung sistema lang sa Kongreso ang pag-uusapan, klarong-klaro kasi na nagkaroon ng sistema, nagkaroon ng mas mabilis na pagtugon sa mga problema at concerns ng bawat kongresista ‘yung kasalukuyang liderato ng kongreso, kay Speaker Martin Romualdez,” she said.

Garin signed the manifesto of support for Romualdez electronically a few days after the midterm polls. The manifesto has been signed by at least 240 lawmakers as of Saturday, according to House Deputy Speaker David Suarez.

But Garin said she has yet to hear of any serious contender.

“I believe that was a few days after elections… Nag-uusap-usap kami mga kongresistang magkakapartido sa Lakas… Suggestion ng isa kong kasamahan na why don't we issue a manifesto of support? Sabi nung iba, may lalaban ba? At that point of time, wala pa naman kami naririnig. And there were actually two contention. Kasi nga, usual naman ‘yun eh. In every election, nagpapadala ka ng manifesto of support to show your position… as one group, as a political party,” she explained.

Garin said there is a possibility some camps are floating names of possible challengers to the Speakership to “bargain” for powerful positions at the lower chamber. These positions include the chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations.

“Usually naman, ‘yung iba nito, karamihan nito ay napupunta doon sa negotiation. So mayroon ibang gustong tumakbo para magkaroon ng negotiating arm for other powerful positions in Congress. Kalimitan po ganun ang nangyayari,” Garin said.

“‘Yung iba kasi they would vie for the speakership and negotiate to be either the minority leader or the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations or Chairman of the Committee on Accounts or chairman of the Committee on Energy, majority leader. ‘Yan po ‘yung mga powerful positions in Congress,” she added.

Asked about the names being floated, Garin said Navotas City Representative Toby Tiangco does not seem interested to challenge Romualdez, while Congressman-elect Albee Benitez has yet to reach out to her regarding the matter.

“I asked Cong. Toby, parang noong nasa campaign… and as I was hearing it from him, mukhang hindi naman siya interesado. Maybe he will be holding a major position in the House. But we never heard him convey his interest for the Speakership. And at some point, he was somehow denying it, ‘yung mga kapanahunan ng kampanya, even after the campaign,” Garin said.

“Cong Albie has always been one of the stalwarts of the Visayas bloc. He hasn't reached out to us personally. Mayroong mga iba na nagsasalita na, oh ganito, may interest daw at may ganyan. But until we hear him speak up, then that's a different story. But knowing him as a senior member of Congress, the possibility na mag-i-interest siya ng ibang posisyon is always there. So I'm not sure kung magiging ano ba ‘yan, point of discussion or point of negotiation among leaders,” she added.

Vice President Sara Duterte had encouraged her brother Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte to vie for House Speaker or House minority leader.

VP Sara Duterte says she asked brother Rep. Pulong to vie for House speakership, minority leader if defeated

Garin said it is within Rep. Duterte’s right, because he is a member of Congress, but whether he has the time to perform the duties of the said positions is something only he can answer.

“Kwalipikado siya kasi member naman siya ng Kongreso. But then, sa pananaw ko, the best person who can answer that is Congressman Pulong… Depende kasi ‘yun sa priorities niya, if he has to be in his district most of the time,” she explained.

“Kasi kapag ikaw ay speaker or ikaw ay minority leader, talagang matatali ka sa Kongreso. Kasi ‘yung araw-araw na trabaho, araw-araw na obligasyon, araw-araw na mga meetings na kailangan mong puntahan, ikutin at i-attend, ‘yung pag-asikaso mo sa iyong mga miyembro, ‘yung iyong mga minority members, or if you're the Speaker, the majority members, that will eat up much of his time,” Garin added.

“Will he have the time and will be willing to sacrifice his time to serve either the majority or the minority in Congress? And of course, kasama d’yan, palagi siyang magiging magde-debate, mag-iinterpellate, palaging magsasalita. So that will eat up much of his time. Hindi ko alam kung nasa priority niya ba ‘yun,” she noted.

House leaders see no change in speakership in 20th Congress

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