Visayan solons back Dy amid reform push

Thirty-nine lawmakers belonging to the so-called Visayan Bloc in the 317-member House of Representatives have joined 180 congressmen from Luzon and Mindanao in backing the leadership of Speaker Faustino "Bojie" Dy III.

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This brings to 219 the total number of House members supporting the current leadership. Leading the Visayan signatories were Deputy Speaker Ferjenel Biron (Iloilo), Senior Deputy Majority Leader Lorenz Defensor (Iloilo), Bacolod Rep. Albee Benitez, and Cebu fifth district Rep. Vincent Franco "Duke" Frasco.

In their manifesto, the lawmakers said the House is at a critical juncture that calls for moral recovery, humility, and the courage to confront uncomfortable truths.

"Speaker Dy has opened the doors to accountability. He has encouraged transparency. He has signaled that no one is above the process," they said.