Marilyn Cahatol

House Deputy Speaker and Cebu 5th District Representative Vincent Franco "Duke" Frasco. Duke Frasco/Facebook

Article (news)

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1749277675222500211121_18500368570032991_3972033400667405447_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false" style="text-align:left">House Deputy Speaker and Cebu 5th District Representative Vincent Franco &quot;Duke&quot; Frasco. <em>Duke Frasco/Facebook</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — House Deputy Speaker Vincent Franco &quot;Duke&quot; Frasco of Cebu&#x27;s 5th District did not sign the manifesto of support for House Speaker Martin Romualdez’s continued leadership of the lower chamber in the 20th Congress.</p><p>“I confirm I did not sign,” Frasco told ABS-CBN News in a message on Saturday but did not give a reason.</p><p>The development comes amid rumors of possible challengers to the House speakership in the 20th Congress.</p><p>House Deputy Speaker David “Jayjay” Suarez of Quezon previously said a “supermajority” of lower house members have signed a manifesto of support for Romualdez.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/19/-house-supermajority-wants-romualdez-as-speaker-in-20th-congress-2015">&#x27;House supermajority wants Romualdez as Speaker in 20th Congress&#x27;</a></div><p>He noted the initiative was backed by lawmakers from all major blocs—including Lakas-CMD, National Unity Party (NUP), Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), Nacionalista Party (NP), Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), and the Party-list Coalition Foundation Inc. (PCFI).</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/4/28/nbi-files-cyber-libel-charges-against-columnist-over-alleged-false-claims-on-impeachment-bribery-1608">NBI files cyber libel charges against columnist over alleged false claims on impeachment bribery<br/></a></div><p>House Assistant Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur&#x27;s 1st District also said last month that at least 280 members had signed the manifesto.</p><p>In a statement, House spokesperson Atty. Princess Abante said that Romualdez&#x27;s leadership is backed by a &quot;supermajority&quot; even with Frasco not signing the manifesto of support.</p><p>She also stressed that lawmakers from across the country, including those from Central Visayas, reaffirmed their support for Romualdez in a recent meeting.</p><p>&quot;Sa rehiyon ng Central Visayas, matibay rin ang ipinakitang pagkakaisa ng mga mambabatas. Kamakailan, nagtipon sina Cebu Reps. Emmarie ‘Lolypop’ Ouano-Dizon, Rhea Mae Gullas, Eduardo Rama Jr., Edsel Galeos, Rep.-elect Ahong Chan, Bohol Reps. Maria Vanessa Aumentado at Kristine Alexie Tutor, at Siquijor Rep. Zaldy Villa kasama si Speaker Romualdez,&quot; Abante said.</p><p>According to Abante, 285 House members have expressed their formal endorsement for Romualdez&#x27;s continued leadership of the chamber.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>NUP EXPELS FRASCO</strong></div><p>In response, the National Unity Party (NUP) has officially expelled Frasco Saturday, June 7 for breaching NUP&#x27;s position to support Romualdez for House leadership. </p><p>“The party leadership has decided to expel Duke (Frasco) from the NUP because his unilateral decision not to support Rep. Martin’s continued stay as Speaker in the next Congress is a blatant breach of the NUP’s official position of unequivocal support for the Speaker to keep his premier post in the next Congress,” said NUP president and Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte.</p><p>Villafuerte noted the deputy leader should have discussed his decision first with the party leadership, instead of publicizing it.</p><p><em></em><em></em><strong><em></em></strong>This contradicts the &quot;long-standing policy of the NUP for all of us to speak and act as one,&quot; said Villafuerte. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/42W64Aqqd_w?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>House Deputy Speaker Vincent Franco "Duke" Frasco fo Cebu's 5th District did not sign the manifesto of support for House Speaker Martin Romualdez’s continued leadership of the lower chamber in the 20th Congress.</p>

House Deputy Speaker Vincent Franco "Duke" Frasco fo Cebu's 5th District did not sign the manifesto of support for House Speaker Martin Romualdez’s continued leadership of the lower chamber in the 20th Congress.

Deputy Speaker Frasco withholds support for Romualdez’s leadership at House

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Deputy Speaker Frasco withholds support for Romualdez’s leadership at House

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 07, 2025 02:41 PM PHT

|

Updated June 07, 2025 07:52 PM PHT

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House of Representatives

ABSnews

Martin Romualdez

Duke Frasco

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