Romualdez named Speaker anew; Sandro promoted to majority leader

Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez has been named anew as speaker of the House of Representatives after gaining the support of 269 of 315 lawmakers.

- By DELON PORCALLA

"I reaffirm our shared commitment: to be a House that is transparent in conduct, firm in principle and always responsive to the needs of our people," Romualdez, first cousin of President Marcos, said yesterday at the first regular session of the 20th Congress.

Romualdez is on his third and last term, serving for nine years by 2028.

The President's eldest son, Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos, has been unanimously elected as majority leader by 290 House members.

Sandro had served as senior deputy majority leader in the 19th Congress.

Over 80 percent, or 212 of 254 district representatives in the lower chamber, belong to political dynasties, according to the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism.

Quezon Rep. David Suarez has been designated as senior deputy speaker.

Suarez has nine deputy speakers under him: Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin, Lanao del Sur Rep. Yasser Alonto Balindong, La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega V, Zambales Rep. Jay Khonghun, Ilocos Sur Rep. Kristine Singson-Meehan, Antipolo Rep. Ronnie Puno, Isabela Rep. Faustino Dy III, Iloilo Rep. Ferjenel Biron and TUCP party-list Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza.

The House's oldest member, 83-year-old Bulacan Rep. Salvador Pleyto Sr., swore Romualdez into office.

Pleyto also administered the oath to the youngest House member, 25-year-old neophyte lawmaker Andrew Julian Romualdez of Tingog party-list.