‘GMA rooting for De Venecia’

The chief strategist of Pangasinan Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr. in his new quest for the position of Speaker proclaimed yesterday that President Arroyo is rooting for his candidate.

Rep. Joey Salceda told reporters that the President attended on Thursday night a meeting between De Venecia and 33 of the 37 women members of the House.

"She did not openly endorse Speaker Joe but her presence was a symbolic gesture that she is giving him the seal of good housekeeping," he said.

He said the 33 congresswomen are all supporters of his candidate.

De Venecia was Speaker for six years during the time of former President Fidel Ramos. The Pangasinan congressman is national chairman of the ruling Lakas-NUCD-Kampi, whose titular head is President Arroyo.

He was Mrs. Arroyo’s presidential standard bearer in the 1998 elections but lost to then Vice President Joseph Estrada. Mrs. Arroyo won the vice presidency.

The President has repeatedly said she would not intervene in the election of the next Speaker and Senate president, although her allies in the Senate are now asking her to mediate between Franklin Drilon and Renato Cayetano.

Salceda said De Venecia has enough numbers to win the speakership against Batanes Rep. Florencio Abad, who is president of the pro-administration Liberal Party.

He said they continue to talk to Abad so they could keep him and his LP group from breaking away from the ruling People Power Coalition (PPC).

"The ball is now in the LP court," he said.

Abad is expected to be supported by his LP group and the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino bloc of Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Carlos Padilla.

However, Salceda said at least 15 LP and LDP congressmen are supporting De Venecia.

He declined to name names, but LP members who have defected to the former Speaker’s camp include Maite Defensor of Quezon City and Rodriguez Dadivas and Fredinil Castro of Capiz. – Jess Diaz