Speakership race: 167 House men backing De Venecia
HOUSE Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. said at least 167 congressmen have confirmed and signed commitments to him in his battle for an unprecedented fifth term as Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Speaking to newsmen during the birthday of comebacking Dagupan City Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. at the Inn Asia here, these congressmen he said vowed to help him retain the speakership with the elections held on July 23.
De Venecia flew in earlier to Lingayen to speak during the unveiling of the statue of his friend, the late Governor Aguedo F. Agbayani, in a park named after the latter in front of the Pangasinan provincial capitol.
Saying it takes only 124 votes to win the speakership, de Venecia revealed his supporters come from the various political parties that coalesced with his own party, Lakas Christian-Muslim Democrats, and the others from the party list group.
“I believe we have more than enough to be elected Speaker of the House. As a matter of fact, we have the overwhelming majority,” said de Venecia.
Those who signed a commitment to support de Venecia are from his own Lakas-CMD of which he is the national president, the Kapisanan ng Mamamayang Pilipino led by Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno and Rep. Ignacio Arroyo, the Liberal Party led by Deputy Speaker Eric Singson, Nationalist People’s Coalition led by Rep. Jack Duavit, secretary general; the Nacionalista Party, the Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas and some members of the PDP-Laban.
He told newsmen he also has the support of more than 12 party list congressmen.
He said all that he needs is 124 votes out of the 244 or 245 elected congressmen or congresswomen, including the party list representatives.
De Venecia said that although he is being challenged by Rep. Pablo Garcia, a former governor of Cebu, of Kampi, he (de Venecia) is being supported by other Cebu congressmen led by Deputy Speaker Raul del Mar, Rep. Antonio Cuenco, Rep. Red Durano and Rep. Eduardo Gullas, who de Venecia considers as a major political heavyweight in Cebu.
