ASIDE from electing Taguig-Pateros 1st District Representative Alan Peter Cayetano as Speaker and Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez as Majority Leader, the House of Representatives has also elected Manila 6th District Bienvenido Abante Jr. as Minority Leader and 14 other representatives as Deputy Speakers.
Abante was elected as Minority Leader a day after the election for Speaker, for which he was also nominated. Abante received 28 votes while Cayetano got an overwhelming 266 votes.
To serve as Deputy Speakers are:
* Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte
* South Cotabato 2nd District Rep. Dinand Ledesma Hernandez
* Sorsogon 1st District Rep. Evelina Escudero
* Antique Rep. Loren Legarda
* Surigao del Sur 2njd District Rep. Johnny T. Pimentel
* Abono Party-list Rep. Conrado Estrella III
* Surigao del Sur 1st District Prospero Arreza Pichay Jr.
* Antipolo City 1st District Roberto Puno
* Cibac Party-list Rep. Brother Eddie Villanueva
* Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio "Dong" D. Gonzales Jr.
* Camarines Sur 2nd District Lray Villafuerte
* Batangas 2nd District Rep. Raneo Abu
* Mandaluyong City Rep. Neptali Gonzales II
* Laguna 1st District Rep. Dan Fernandez
Abu was elected on July 23 while Gonzales and Fernandez were elected on July 24. The other Deputy Speakers were elected on July 22, after the election of Cayetano, Romualdez and Abante.
Elected as Deputy Majority Leaders were Las Pinas Rep. Camille Villar, Illocos Norte Rep. Ria Farinas, and Quezon Rep. David Suarez.
The Deputy Minority Leaders are Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin and Quezon City Rep. Christopher Belmonte.
Davao City 3rd District Rep. Isidro Ungab was earlier chosen to chair the committee on appropriations while Cavite 7th District Rep. Abraham Tolentino will chair the committee on accounts.
Under Section 17 of the House Rules V, Deputy Speakers assume the duties and powers of the Speaker when so chosen by a majority vote or by lot among themselves, as the case may be, in cases of absence or temporary incapacity of the Speaker, until such time that the Speaker returns to office and resumes work; and, in case of resignation, removal, permanent incapacity or death of the Speaker, until such time that a new Speaker is elected and qualified.
The Deputy Speaker also presides over the session when, even if present, the Speaker does not preside, or has not designated any other member as temporary presiding officer as provided in Section 15(h) of Rule IV.
It is also the task of the Deputy Speaker to monitor, coordinate and facilitate action on measures filed, requests, and other concerns of members representing constituencies to which they may be assigned by the Speaker.
The Deputy Speaker may also recommend to the Speaker appropriate policies, strategies and programs of action to improve the process of legislation and the quality of legislative measures, and to effectively address concerns of members on matters affecting them, their constituencies, and the overall operations and integrity of the House. (With a report from Ryniel Berlanga/SunStar Philippines)