Marcos congratulates Senate ‘Magic 12’

MANILA, Philippines — Presumptive president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has exhorted the 12 newly proclaimed senators to work together for the nation to bounce back from the adverse impacts of the pandemic.

“Mabuhay ang ating mga bagong mambabatas sa Senado! (Hail our new lawmakers in the Senate!),” Marcos said in his tweet Wednesday night as he congratulated the 12 winning senators of the May 9 elections.

Proclaimed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), acting as the National Board of Canvassers, were the “Magic 12” in the senatorial race composed of actor Robin Padilla, Antique Rep. Loren Legarda, broadcaster Raffy Tulfo, reelectionist Sen. Win Gatchalian, Sorsogon Gov. Francis Escudero, former public works secretary Mark Villar, Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano, reelectionist Senators Migz Zubiri, Risa Hontiveros and Joel Villanueva and former senators JV Ejercito and Jinggoy Estrada.

A few hours after their proclamation at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, Marcos – who was on a short vacation to Australia with his family – tweeted: “Higit kailanman, kinakailangan ng ating bansa ang inyong pagseserbisyo at karunungan para sa ating patuloy na pagbangon at pag-unlad. Congratulations!” (Now more than ever, our country needs your service and wisdom for us to bounce back and prosper together).

Six of the winners – Padilla, Legarda, Gatchalian, Villar, Zubiri and Estrada – were endorsed and adopted by Marcos and his running mate, presumptive vice president Sara Duterte-Carpio, in their tandem’s UniTeam slate.

PDP-Laban backs Romualdez

Members of the PDP-Laban party in the House of Representatives have expressed support to the speakership bid of Majority Leader Martin Romualdez in the incoming 19th Congress.

Incoming congressmen belonging to President Duterte’s political party met at a hotel in Mandaluyong City yesterday to formally endorse Romualdez as the next House speaker.

Romualdez, who joined the event, thanked administration congressmen for their support.

“This is the unity that we were saying during the campaign. We look forward to working together in helping the incoming administration in his mission of a united Philippines,” he told reporters in an ambush interview.

Among those present was Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, member of PDP-Laban who supported the candidacy of opposition presidential bet Vice President Leni Robredo.

PDP-Laban president and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi already announced their support for Romualdez, who is president of the once ruling and now re-emerging Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats party. – Edu Punay