Palace on speaker change: Up to House

MANILA, Philippines — It is up to the members of the House of Representatives to decide on their leadership, Malacañang said yesterday, as rumors swirled that Isabela Rep. Faustino Dy III may be replaced as Speaker.

“The change in the leadership of Congress is not in the President’s hands,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said.

“Whatever they want to do at the House of Representatives is up to them,” she added.

Online media entity Politiko said Dy, who was elected Speaker last September, is “reportedly on shaky ground” as he had “not inspired confidence” and had “not built real relationships.”

According to the news website, there are talks that Malacañang “is eyeing yet another leadership shake-up” in the House as the Marcos administration grapples with the flood control mess.

However, Caloocan Rep. Egay Erice said the lower chamber cannot afford another shake-up just two months after a new speaker was elected.

“I don’t think that we can afford the leadership change right now,” Erice told One News’ “Storycon” yesterday, noting that the demotion of Suarez to deputy speaker shows that Dy’s power is growing.

Meanwhile, the Northern Luzon Alliance declared “unequivocal support” for Dy yesterday as it highlighted the Speaker’s leadership, character and steady hand in guiding the House of Representatives.

House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos III of Ilocos Norte led the signing of the manifesto, together with Deputy Speakers Kristine Singson-Meehan of Ilocos Sur and Francisco Paolo Ortega V of La Union.

In a two-page declaration, the alliance—composed of lawmakers from Regions I and II and the Cordillera Administrative Region—said its support is grounded on conviction, unity and trust.

The House of Representatives in the meantime has elected South Cotabato Rep. Ferdinand Hernandez as its new senior deputy speaker during Wednesday’s plenary session.

Hernandez succeeded Quezon Rep. David Suarez, who in turn was elected as House deputy speaker.

Hernandez’s election as senior deputy speaker was approved upon the motion of House deputy majority leader and Sorsogon Rep. Wowo Fortes.

Prior to his election, Hernandez was already one of the House deputy speakers in the 20th Congress.

Hernandez is the principal author of 20 House bills aimed at providing or improving government support to various marginalized sectors, such as seniors, persons with disabilities, persons with mental health issues, health workers, teachers and non-teaching personnel, among others. He is also listed as co-author of HB 404, 819 and 3839.

He sits as vice chairman of the House committees on appropriations, higher and technical education, transportation and ways and means.

Hernandez is also a member of the committees on accounts, banks and financial intermediaries, energy, games and amusements, good government and public accountability, national defense and security, and overseas workers affairs.

The Lakas–Christian Muslim Democrats, for its part, closed ranks behind party chairman former senator Ramon Revilla Jr., issuing a strong call for due process and cautioning against hasty conclusions as public debate intensifies over ongoing inquiries into infrastructure-related matters.

In a joint statement signed by senior party officials from across the country, Lakas-CMD underscored its “full support” for Revilla and reminded the public that democratic safeguards are meant to protect every individual — public servant or private citizen — from prejudgment.

“As a party that has always upheld democratic values, we reaffirm a principle fundamental to any just society: every individual is entitled to due process and the presumption of innocence,” the joint statement read.  - Jose Rodel Clapano, EJ Macababbad