• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
All legislators from Negros Island Region (NIR), except for Bacolod City Lone District Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, voted to retain Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Ferdinand Romualdez as the House Speaker of the 20th Congress.
Romualdez, the lone nominee, obtained 269 votes, with 34 abstentions, among these from Benitez, former mayor of highly-urbanized Bacolod City and previously congressman of the adjacent third district.
In a statement, Benitez said he did not vote for Romualdez as he believes that the “Chamber needs a leader who will stand firmly behind President Bongbong Marcos – not pull him down – and can help unite the nation behind his vision for the country”.
“Our constituents and even our colleagues now question the integrity, transparency, and sincerity of the House,” he added.
Benitez said he chose not to align himself with either the majority or minority or become the opposition, but declared his continued support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“I will serve as an independent member of the House – fully supportive of the President and committed to encouraging broader support for his leadership. Our country needs a government that works – decisively, efficiently, and with the people’s interest front and center. This administration must succeed,” Benitez said.
Those from Negros Occidental who voted for Romualdez were Benitez’s son, Javier Miguel Benitez, of the third district, as well as Julio Ledesma – first district; Alfredo Marañon III – second district; Jeffrey Ferrer – fourth district; Emilio Bernardino Yulo – fifth district; Mercedes Alvarez – sixth district; and Manuel Frederick Ko – Abang Lingkod partylist.
The elder Benitez said his son has his own reasons in supporting Romualdez.
“In doing that, of course, we respect each other’s decision, he added.
In a separate statement, Yulo, whose legislative district records the most number of internally displaced persons affected by the unrest of Mt. Kanlaon, expressed support to Romualdez, his partymate in Lakas-CMD.
“When Kanlaon Volcano erupted, Speaker Martin Romualdez was among the first who showed concern and extended assistance to us in the fifth district,” he added.
In Negros Oriental, Romualdez also got the support of Emmanuel Limkaichong – first district; Maisa Sagarbarria – second district; and Janice Degamo – third district; as well as of Siquijor Rep. Zaldy Villa. | GB
