DAVAO del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez handily won the speakership of the Lower House as he garnered the nod of 251 lawmakers during the start of the 17th Congress yesterday.
It was Liberal Party (LP) stalwart and outgoing Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. who nominated Alvarez for the speakership, a move that was seconded by leaders of the Nacionalista Party (NP), Nationalist Peoples’ Coalition (NPC), National Unity Party (NUP) and Alvarez’s Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) in the House.
Challenging Alvarez for the post were Ifugao Rep. Teddy Brawner Baguilat and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez who garnered eight and seven votes, respectively.
There were 21 abstentions.
Alvarez later swore into office the other new House leaders.
Elected as deputy speakers were Ilocos Sur Rep. Eric Singson, Negros Occidental Rep. Mercedes Alvarez, Rep. Fredenil Castro, Batangas Rep. Raneo Abu and Marikina Rep. Romero Quimbo.
A new House secretary general was elected in the person of Cesar Pareja who replaced Marilyn Baruja-Yap.
The post of Minority Leader is still to be resolved as members of the minority, those who did not vote for Alvarez, has yet to vote who among themselves will be their leader. (pna)
Disclaimer
Mindanao Gold Star Daily holds the copyrights of all articles and photos in perpetuity. Any unauthorized reproduction in any platform, electronic and hardcopy, shall be liable for copyright infringement under the Intellectual Property Rights Law of the Philippines.
