Partylist coalition nixes term-sharing
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Thu, 27 Jun 2019 09:05:52 +0000
ROMERO
The Partylist Coalition Foundation Inc. has blocked a move to force a term-sharing option in the speakership race which the second largest political bloc in the House of Representatives described as “inimical to the interest of its members.”
This was gathered as the PCFI declared it remains hopeful President Duterte will declare his choice for speaker today.
House Senior Deputy Majority Leader and Sagip partylist Rep. Rodante Marcoleta said it was a stroke of political genius on the part of PCFI president and 1Pacman party-list Rep. Michael Romero to sign a manifesto declaring support for the speakership bid of Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, the declared speakership nominee of the dominant PDP-Laban party.
“It was a decision aimed at thwarting a plan of a certain group towards term-sharing between two speakership hopeful,” said Marcoleta after a closed-door meeting of the PCFI Wednesday night.
Marcoleta, designated spokesman of the organization, said the PCFI is opposed to term-sharing in the speakership post, stressing that leadership change will imperil the legislative agenda of party-list organizations.
Romero was among the five House political bloc leaders who signed on Tuesday the “Multi-Party Manifesto of Support” for Velasco’s candidacy. Aside from endorsing Velasco for speaker, the manifesto also stressed that the next speaker “should serve a full term to completely realize His Excellency’s (Duterte) legislative agenda.” (Ben Rosario)