THE Nacionalista Party, the oldest political party in the Philippines, has given its "unequivocal support" to newly elected House of Representatives Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.

Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said 44 members of the party, including ousted speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and his wife Lani, signed a manifesto of support for Velasco.

He dismissed claims that members of the party will now be in the House's minority bloc.

“I do not think there will be a possibility that speaker Alan will become a member of the minority kasi sa ngayon sa aming manifesto, very clear na sinasabi namin doon bilang isang bloc, isang grupo, na pinangungunahan ni former speaker Alan na kami ay sumusuporta ngayon kay Speaker Lord Velasco,” Barbers said.

Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar, in a statement, said the NP will extend its" collaborative hand” to Velasco to ensure the swift and timely passage of the proposed 2021 budget.

“Amid the recent development in the House of Representatives, the Nacionalista Party remains steadfast in supporting the legislative agenda of the President as his government endeavors to bring solution to the problems of the country, especially now that we are in the middle of the pandemic,” Villar said. (Jove Moya/SunStar Philippines)