Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez officially began his second consecutive term as Speaker of the House of Representatives on Monday, July 28, during the opening of the 20th Congress’ first regular session.
Romualdez, who serves as president of the dominant Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party, received 269 votes during plenary session.
The hour-long nominal voting served as a mere formality as Romualdez was the sole nominee for the Speakership during the proceedings.
This echoed the events three years ago, during the opening of the 19th Congress, when he was similarly elected unchallenged.
Ahead of the vote, 293 of the 314 House members reportedly signed a manifesto supporting Romualdez’s continued leadership in the lower chamber. (Ellson Quismorio)
