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 mualdez has the most (Philconsa) and the La-
excellent interpersonal kas-Christian Muslim
relationship with his col- Democrats (CMD).
leagues as attested by He was the House
From Page 1 '
the manifesto of support Independent Bloc. leader
Anakalusugan party- for him to be the next of the previous 16th
list Representative-elect Speaker which was ini- Congress or during the
Mike Defensor said tially signed by more Aquino administration.
speakership candidates, than 153 lawmakers. Romualdez, an in.
Martin Romualdez of Defensor said inter- coming four-terrr con-
Leyte and Alan Peter personal relationship is g?essman, holds a Bach-
Cayetano have an edge very crucial in shepherd- elor of Arts degree in
in terms of experience ing the swift passage of Government fron the
and competence over Duterte's important leg- Ivy League school, in
their rivals that include islative measures. Cornell University, and
Marindue Rep. Lord "When you speak of a Certificate of Special
Alan Velasco and former speakership, you need to Studies in Administration
Speaker Pantaleon "Be- have an excellent inter- and Management from
bot" Alvarez. personal relationship Harvard Universitv. He
"They are all my with each and every also earned his Bache-
friends and can serve member of the House lor of Laws degree-from
Speaker. But Congress- and clearly with the the University of the
men Martin Romualdez mandate given to Con- Philippines (UP).
and Alan Cavetano have gXessmrri Romualdez, it One of the laws
the leadershi-p depth and goes to show his good passed by Romualdez
the capacity to navigate relationship with the was Republic Act (RA)
the House in terms of majority of lawmakers," 10754, which exempts
needed legislation. They said Defensor. more than 1.5 million
have the experience, House Majority Floor persons with dipbilities
competence and ealiber Leader and Capiz Rep. (PWDs) from l2-percent
to lead the members of Fredenil "Fredi Caetro value added tax (VAT)
the House," said Defen- echoed Defensor's obser- on certain goods and ser-
sor, who was Mala- vation that interoerson- vices. It was enacted
caflang Chief of Staff ai relationship is'a cru- during the time of
during the Arroyo ad- cial charaeter of the next former President Aqui-
ministration. Speaker. no.
"The nen<t Speaker "Martin's character Cayetano served
should be Speaker from has an overwhelmins three terms as member
day one. He should edge as against the othl of the House of Repre-
know what to do the er candidates," gaid Cas- sentatives, two terms as
very minute he sits as tro, president of the Na- senator, and secretary of
the country's fourth tional Unity Party the Department of For-
highest official of tbe (NUP). eign Affairs.
land," said Defensor, a "And Martin initiallv He finished his col-
former secretary of the having been benefittel lege degree in UP and
Department of Environ- by the voluntary en- graduated from the Ate-
ment and Natural Re- dorsement of more than neo [,aw School.
sources (DENR), in un- 153 members of the Velasco earned a de-
derscoring the urgent House is something that gree in Bachelor of Sci-
need to help President has to be reckoned ence in Business Man-
Duterte's efforts in pur- with," Castro added. agement from De La
suing structural reforms Romualdez, a banker Salle University and
to guarantee the coun- and lawyer by profes- completed his Bachelor
try's economic takeoff. sion, is the president of of Laws degrbe from the
Among the candi- the Philippine Constitu- University of Santo To-
dates, Defensol said Ro- tion
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