Leaders of the Lower Chamber denied Tuesday the ouster rumors against Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez as House Majority Leader.
Senior Deputy Speaker Doy Leachon dismissed the rumors in a text message to House reporters.
“It’s not true. Sana alam ko kung totoo (I should have known if it were true). No reason at all because [the] relationship with [Majority Leader] Martin, has been so far professional and untainted,” Leachon claimed.
In a phone interview with PTV News, Deputy Speaker and Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr., shared that he talked to Speaker Lord Allan Velasco yesterday, and was assured that the 15-21 term sharing agreement will not be in peril.
“Hindi ako naniniwala doon na mangyayari iyon dahil kahapon lang, magkausap kami ni Speaker. He will abide by the usapan, ‘di ba? Mayroong usapan, ‘di ba? Simula’t sapul may usapan na ‘yung 15-21. Una si Cayetano, sabay si Lord, sabay si Martin as majority leader. (I do not believe that it will happen because I was just talking to the Speaker yesterday. He will abide by the agreement, right? There is an agreement, right? Ever since, there has been an agreement on the 15-21. First, it’s Cayetano, then Lord, then Martin as majority leader.) Speaker Lord Allan Velasco will abide by that agreement,” Teves assured.
When asked for his message to those spreading rumors, Teves challenged them to back their claim with evidence.
“‘’Yung mga nagpapakalat ng kahit anong balita, lagyan niyo ng ebidensya, ‘di ba? Kung may ebidensya, di hindi na rumor iyon, ‘di ba? (As for those spreading the rumor, back it up with evidence, right? If there is evidence, then it is no longer a rumor, right?)” he added.
But for Velasco’s critic, Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor who is a known ally of former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, and Romualdez’ party-mate in the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD), it is not a rumor at all.
“I don’t think it’s a rumor, I think there’s really a move and people are talking about it. At marami sa kampo nila yung kumakalat at nagsasalita (A lot of people from their camp are spreading it and talking about it),” Defensor insisted.
Defensor added that his party-mates were already reacting on the issue, as it reached their thread.
“Ako naniniwala. Marami kasi kaming mga kasama na identified sa leadership ni Speaker Velasco, pero kapag siempre iyong presidente mo ang tinamaan na, iyong majority leader ninyo na alam naman ng lahat na, maganda ang relasyon ni Romualdez sa aming lahat, titindig lahat (I believe it. Many of our colleagues are identified with the leadership of Speaker Velasco but of course when your president is hit, your majority leader Romualdez whom everybody knows has a good relationship with everybody, everyone will stand up for him.” Defensor concluded. – Daniel Manalastas
