Lawmakers, party-list winners back Belmonte for speaker

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union, Philippines – At least 40 congressmen of the Nationalist People’s Coalition and some party-list representatives have signed a manifesto of support for the speakership bid of representative-elect Feliciano Belmonte Jr.

“Yes, I signed the resolution supporting Belmonte for Speaker. I think the manifesto also follows our support for the incoming administration (of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III,”) a neophyte party-list representative, who signed the manifesto, told The STAR but declined to be named until the document comes out in public.

The source said the signing was held Tuesday in Manila where almost all the re-elected and newly elected NPC congressmen were present.

A newly elected Ilocano congressman, who was a former Lakas-CMD stalwart but defected to NPC during the election, confirmed to The STAR that he signed the document endorsing Belmonte of the Liberal Party.

“That was the consensus of party members and officers headed by Chairman Danding Cojuangco. We will support Belmonte and the administration of Noynoy,” the new lawmaker said.

The neophyte lawmaker said the Northern Alliance of Congressmen will also endorse Belmonte who is being fielded by Aquino.

Both The STAR sources are members of the Alliance.

Six elected Maguindanao mayors and their vice mayors broke tradition and took oath yesterday with a promise they will “force” their congressional representatives to support the bid for speakership of Quezon City congressman-elect Sonny Belmonte in exchange for the revival, through a legislation, of the defunct Shariff Kabunsuan province.

Shariff Kabunsuan, which covers all of the 11 towns in the first district was originally created by the 24-seat Regional Assembly in 2006, but was deactivated by the Supreme Court on the behest of now outgoing Maguindanao Rep. Didagen Dilangalen due to political differences then with a political adversary, Sandra Sema.

Sema defeated Dilangalen during the May 10 race for the congressional seat in the first district of Maguindanao with the help of the six mayors.

“In reciprocation, incoming Congresswoman Sema would not turn us down if we ask her to vote for Congressman Belmonte when he runs for speaker. All we ask of Congresswoman Sema is to let Belmonte focus attention on the revival of the Shariff Kabunsuan province, the group’s spokesman, Vice Mayor Alex Tomawis of Barira town said.

Sema, in a text message to reporters, said he would listen to the clamor of the six newly elected mayors.

“In Islam, consensus-building is a key parameter for governance,” Sema said.

Ibay, who was a member of the ARMM legislature for nine years, or three consecutive terms, said they are also contemplating now on joining the provincial chapter of the Liberal Party in Maguindanao.

The provincial chairman of the Liberal Party in Maguindanao, Hadji Tucao Mastura, a member of the Moro royalty, and his counterpart datus and sultans in Lanao del Sur earlier urged all representatives of the seven congressional districts in Maguindanao to support Belmonte’s bid for the speakership. – With John Unson