24 incoming Northern Luzon congressmen express support for Belmonte

MANILA, Philippines - Twenty-four incoming representatives from Northern Luzon yesterday expressed their support for the speakership bid of outgoing Quezon City mayor and Representative-elect Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr.

Their decision was announced by leaders of the Northern Luzon Alliance, which groups lawmakers from the region.

“I think Sonny Belmonte will make an outstanding Speaker of the House of Representatives,” outgoing Pangasinan Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr. told reporters.

He said he, as chairman emeritus of the alliance, outgoing Ilocos Sur congressman and Deputy Speaker Eric Singson, as president emeritus, La Union Rep. Victor Ortega, as president, and Quirino Rep. Junie Cua “have been mobilizing the forces of the north for Sonny Belmonte.”

De Venecia said President Arroyo, who has won the congressional seat in Pampanga’s second district, should not aspire for the speakership.

“Her running for Speaker will generate more enmity among Filipinos,” he said.

He said most likely, Lakas would field Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman against Belmonte.

“Edcel will make a great minority leader,” he added.

De Venecia also said he believes the speakership is already in the bag for Belmonte.

“He enjoys support not only from the Liberal Party but also from the Nacionalista Party, Nationalist People’s Coalition, party-list groups, and Lakas as well,” he said.

Cua said he has worked with Belmonte in the 11th Congress when the latter was Speaker for five months.

“He is a consensus builder. That kind of leadership is what the incoming Congress needs,” he said.

De Venecia’s wife Gina, congresswoman-elect of Pangasinan’s fourth district, is among those who will vote for Belmonte as Speaker, along with Singson’s son Eric Jr., representative-elect of Ilocos Sur’s second district, and Cua’s son Dakila Carlos, incoming congressman of Quirino.

By Deputy Speaker Singson’s count, 24 of the 31 members of the Northern Luzon Alliance have already committed their support for Belmonte.

The 21 others who he said would vote for Belmonte are incoming Reps. Rodolfo Fariñas and Imelda Marcos of Ilocos Norte, Giorgidi Aggabao of Isabela, Manuel Agyao of Kalinga, Eleonor Begtang of Apayao, Teodoro Baguilat of Ifugao, Ronald Cosalan of Benguet;

Henedina Abad of Batanes, Antonio Diaz of Zambales, Bernardo Vergara of Baguio City, Eufranio Eriguel of La Union, Napoleon Dy of Isabela, Carlos Padilla of Nueva Vizcaya, Maria Bernos of Abra, Ronald Singson of Ilocos Sur, Florencio Vargas of Cagayan, Kimi Cojuangco of Pangasinan, Maximo Dalog of Mt. Province, Marlyn Primicias Agabas of Pangasinan, and Francisco Ortega III and Jon Pingay of the party-list groups Abono and Coop-Natco.