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The Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), a major ally of the administration coalition, has thrown its support behind re-elected Pangasinan Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr. in his bid for an unprecedented fifth term as Speaker of the House.

As this developed, De Venecia expressed confidence that he would retain this post.

“I think we will have about more than 200 congressmen and congresswomen supporting me,” said De Venecia after various political party leaders said they would back his candidacy to lead them again in the House of Representatives.

NPC chairman Frisco San Juan and secretary general Jack Duavit, a congressman from Rizal, said they have reached a consensus to support De Venecia, who was re-elected as congressman of the fourth district of Pangasinan in the May 14 elections.

De Venecia thanked the NPC leaders but said he will begin his campaign for the speakership only after the proclamation of senatorial candidates and the completion of the congressional contests.

The NPC is the latest of the major political parties to openly declare support for De Venecia two months before the next Congress opens, after an election in which the multi-party coalition won more seats in the race for the chamber’s 219 congressional seats.

De Venecia yesterday said in an interview with Bombo Radyo Dagupan that he is thankful to the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) through Interior secretary Ronaldo Puno, the NPC led by former Ambassador Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino through Sen. Edgardo Angara, Liberal Party- Atienza wing, Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas headed by National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales and his own Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, and party-list congressmen for signifying their backing.

At least six moderate party-list organizations are supporting the coalition, after signing coalition agreements with the Lakas-CMD, of which De Venecia is national president, weeks before the May polls.

He said Kampi has 48 elected congressmen, 30 for NPC while Lakas-CMD has 92.

NPC said the Speaker is “undoubtedly the most qualified and the most able” leader to steer the chamber in passing reform legislation when the 14th Congress convenes on July 23.

“The party has a strong coalition with the Lakas-CMD. We reaffirm our commitment to the coalition and to the Speaker to lead the House in initiating wide-ranging reform legislation,” San Juan said in a press statement. He said De Venecia has “no equal as a consensus builder.”

Former congressman San Juan was joined by NPC stalwarts Mark Cojuangco of Pangasinan and Duavit. Cojuangco is the son of business magnate and San Miguel Corp. chairman Danding Cojuangco, who is chairman emeritus of the party.

“The NPC’s support is firm and unconditional,” the three NPC leaders added.

Meanwhile, De Venecia said he will not take the lead in the move to amend the 1987 Constitution to shift from the present presidential to parliamentary form of government, which failed in previous efforts.

He added he would concentrate on lawmaking focusing on job creation, agriculture modernization, the construction of two million houses, expansion of micro finance credit, consolidation and expansion of tax reform programs, among others.

But he said based on the experiences in the recently held elections where there were reports of massive vote buying and allegations of cheating, there is really a need to change the system. – Delon Porcalla, Eva Visperas