Lakas stalwarts sign pro-Speaker manifesto

MANILA, Philippines — Amid rumors of a House leadership change for allegedly using the ayuda cash subsidy to push the people’s initiative signature drive, the ruling Lakas-CMD majority bloc issued a manifesto in support of Speaker Martin Romualdez.

According to House Majority Leader and Zamboanga City Rep. Mannix Dalipe – who is also Lakas-CMD’s executive vice president – the manifesto was signed by the party’s members to support Romualdez against what they described as baseless accusations.

“We, the members of the Lakas-CMD in the House of Representatives, stand united in our resolve to defend the integrity of our esteemed Speaker, the Honorable Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, against the unfounded criticisms levied upon him in the context of the people’s initiative to amend the 1987 Constitution,” the manifesto reads.

The manifesto was signed by 91 of the 94 members of Lakas-CMD, the dominant political party in the 311-strong House of Representatives. 

It was also signed by Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, despite her rift with the Speaker in the past.

Arroyo is close to Vice President Sara Duterte whose father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, has been criticizing the House since the chamber removed the P650-million confidential fund requested by the Office of the Vice President and Department of Education, which the younger Duterte heads.

Romualdez is also being criticized by his cousin, Sen. Imee Marcos, who accused him of having distributed P20 million in exchange for the signatures being collected in the legislative districts nationwide for the people’s initiative. In the manifesto, the lawmakers expressed their “unwavering support” for Romualdez, the Lakas-CMD president. They also recognized his “leadership and commitment to the principles of democracy and good governance.”

“The allegations against him, centered around the people’s initiative, are baseless and do not reflect the true nature of his service to the nation,” it stated.

Under Romualdez’s leadership, the manifesto indicated that the House has achieved “record success in approving bills that propel economic growth, create job opportunities and improve the overall quality of life