I ruunsoav, rurv ra, zors
Rornualdez...
POSE FOR POSTERITY. leyte nep.
Martin Romualdez, with former presidentand
House Speaker Gloria MacapagalArroyo and
former First GentlemanMike Arroyo, Pampanga
Rep, Mikey Arroyo, Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. and
former Pampanga Vice Governorclayton Olalia
(left ) during the Thankgiving Dinner Tuesdayat
Edsa Shangri-La Hotel.ver Noveno
Romualdez fetes 131 House allies,
promises to work for'best Congress'
By MaricelV. Cruz and
Macon Ramos-Araneta
LEYTE Rep. Martin Romualdejzon Tues-
- day night feted the 131 congressmen who
supported his bid for the speakership, in
a gesture of gratitude to his colleagues
who stood up for him and believed in his
competence and leadership skills io lead
the House of Representatives.
FrcmA7
oftle Republic ofthe Philippines bEc-ause
; tle people deserve the bcst. From the bot-
'.tam ofmy heart, thank you very much.
, "We love you all and we will see you
next week and we will be working hard
together."
He engaged his allies who belong to all
political parties and inJluential blocs in
co[versation up to li30 Wednesdaymorn-
mg.
Ir relded developments:
' . The Liberal Party said House mem-
bers sbould elect a genuine Minority
Le'ader at the House of Representatives
to ehsure the check and balance to the
Majority aligried w ith the powerful ad-
ririGtration.
" g'Tt**]'uld notjusr be anybody, including
t!6se who oniy want a position and those
niirsquerading as fiscalizers but are in fact
collaborators." sbessed the party's presi-
dent Senator Francis Pangilinan.
' He said the House and the people de-'
served a real opposition leader, not the
Majorityt "Minodty Leader."
"It is not bad to be in hamiony with the
In his speech, Romualdez, who got the Majority in legislating measures for the
backing ofat least 167 lawmakers in the pqb1ic.good," he said.
"Birt toeing the administrationt line
speakership fight, told his copgressiona|
allies who applauded him several times without considering ths iuterest of the
in tbe thanksgiving dinner he hosted foi people is what we fear with the Majorityb
them at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel: "I Minority Leacler at the helm," added the
opposition leader
want to join hands with all ofyou Tri giv-e
He guaranteed rhat the ruling pany in
thanks and pray to make surc,that thl{
the previous administrution, together with
l8th Congress may be the bgst qongresi
its allies at the House, would continue to
nut-poSd
uphold its values and principles in dealing
with this tead€Iship issue. With PNA