Benitez, other Visayan lawmakers back Duterte's bet for Speaker

THE Visayan bloc in the House of Representatives is supporting the choice of presumptive president Rodrigo Duterte for Speaker.

Incoming Davao del Norte first district Representative Pantaleon Alvarez is poised to succeed incumbent House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. of the Liberal Party (LP).

The Visayan bloc led by Negros Occidental third district Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez committed their support and cooperation to the next administration.

Thirty members of the bloc, most of whom are LP members, signed the manifesto.

The manifesto, a copy of which was obtained by Sun.Star Bacolod, stated that "we, the members of the Visayan Bloc extend our cooperation and support to the incoming Duterte administration in its pursuit for the development and enactment of pro-people and developmental policies and programs for our country."

"The bloc also manifests its support to the speakership bid of Congressman Alvarez for the 17th Congress," it added.

Iloilo City Representative Jerry Treñas, chairman of the Visayan bloc, told Sun.Star Bacolod on Sunday, May 22, that majority of them is supporting Alvarez.

The group signed the manifesto last Wednesday, and it was forwarded to the camp of Alvarez on Saturday, said Treñas, who is also an LP member.

Asked why they are backing the speakership bid of Alvarez, Treñas said that "we feel that he is going to the get the majority. The anointed of the president usually becomes the speaker."

Benitez, who was the first to sign the manifesto, supported Duterte's opponent Senator Grace Poe in the May 9 elections.

Before the elections, Benitez, a former LP member, was reported to be eyeing the House speakership himself.

Others who signed the manifesto were Negros Occidental fifth district Representative Alejandro Mirasol and outgoing Representatives Evelio Leonardia of Bacolod City and Pryde Henry Teves of Negros Oriental third district.

Incoming Negrense representatives who also signed were Greg Gasataya (lone district, Bacolod City), Melecio Yap Jr. (first district, Negros Occidental), Manuel Sagarbarria (second district, Negros Oriental), and Arnie Teves (Third District, Negros Oriental).

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