ABANG Lingkod Partylist Rep. Stephen Paduano defended his vote for Cong. Bienvinido Abante in the election for the Speaker of the House of Representatives Monday, July 22, 2019.

Paduano is the only congressman from the province who voted for Abante as all district representatives in the province namely; Gerardo Valmayor (First District), Leo Rafael Cueva (Second District), Jose Francisco Benetiz (Third District), Greg Gasataya (Lone District, Bacolod), Juliet Marie Ferrer (Fourth District), Marilou Arroyo (Fifth District) and Genaro Alvarez (Sixth District) have voted for House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano.

Paduano explained that he was in the same position during the previous congress where he was given the green light to be the Deputy Minority Leader.

Now, he said that he leads the 11-member Partylist Coalition and that he is hoping to be appointed House Deputy Minority Leader which will be approved by the Speaker of the House.

Once he will be the Deputy Minority Leader he will automatically be a member of all the committees.

Abante is the incumbent representative of the 6th district of Manila. He is also the host pastor of Metropolitan Bible Baptist Church and Ministries in Sta. Ana.

Cayetano who won the Speakership will share his term with Marinduque Congressman Lord Allan Jay Velasco after 15 months.