00:00House Speaker Martin Romualdez will remain in his leadership post once the 20th Congress officially begins session.
00:07So says two ranking House solons and allies of the Speaker who took part in a greet and meet face-off today
00:13to discuss preparations for the opening of the 20th Congress.
00:17Armelle Las Moras tells us more.
00:21Several House leaders are confident that Speaker Martin Romualdez will remain as the leader of the House of Representatives of the 20th Congress.
00:30This amid rumors of a possible change of leadership in the lower chamber.
00:34According to House Deputy Speaker David J.J. Suarez and House Committee on Agriculture and Food Share Mark and Virga,
00:40they fully support Speaker Romualdez.
00:42They also claim they have not heard of anyone attempting to replace him.
00:46Alam mo, hindi mo maiiwasan yun eh kasi syempre papasok ka talaga sa bagong kongreso,
00:52ang daming ufo-float, ang daming pangalan na babanggitin.
00:56And kasi lang sa amin, sa lakas, we're the dominant majority party.
01:00Kung hindi po ako nagkakamali, we have around 105 elected congressmen
01:06and we're 100% behind the leadership of Speaker Martin Romualdez.
01:11Of course, under the banner of continuity.
01:13We believe that si Speaker Martin will continue his term as Speaker.
01:21I guess it's just a matter of discussing it siguro in the coming month probably or soon enough.
01:28So, I think tuloy naman to. I don't know any rumors.
01:32Wala naman ako na didinig ng mga rumors diyan.
01:35Suarez and Virga and other house leaders held a meeting today.
01:38But they said it's not a loyalty check or a show of force,
01:42but just a simple meet and greet as part of the preparations for the 20th Congress.
01:46There's so much work and preparations that need to be done,
01:50especially when it comes to issues like committee assignments.
01:54At ayaw naman po natin mangyari na kung kailan tumatakbo na yung kongreso,
02:00saka pa lang natin binubuo.
02:02So, maganda, maaga pa lang, pinaghahandaan na natin ito
02:04para pagpasok po namin sa July 1,
02:08trabaho na agad ang gagawin namin sa kongreso.
02:11Deputy Speaker Suarez emphasized that in the 20th Congress,
02:14they will focus on passing more key administration measures
02:17concerning the economy, agriculture, health, and other sectors.
02:22At present, there's also an issue claiming the pending impeachment
02:25of Vice President Sara Duterte by the lower house
02:28has allegedly weakened support for the administration's slate
02:30in the 2025 midterm elections.
02:33However, Suarez disagrees.
02:35Kung titignan po natin yung winning rate
02:37ng mga congressmen na pumirma sa impeachment,
02:41I think that was at 86%.
02:43So, sila po talaga yung dapat makaramdam kung meron man, no?
02:48Melalas Moras from the National TV Network
02:51for a new and better Philippines.
