Neophyte lawmaker Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep. Sandro Marcos, the son of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and nephew of House Speaker Martin Romualdez, has been elected as one of the high-ranking leaders in the House of Representatives.
During Tuesday's session, the younger Marcos was elected as Senior Deputy Majority Leader of the lower chamber. His nomination was unopposed.
4P's partylist Rep. Marcelino Libanan, meanwhile, was elected as the new House Minority Floor Leader.
In his acceptance speech, Libanan assured that the coalition will perform its tasks "as a responsible minority".
“I would like to thank all my dear colleagues in the minority and all of the congressmen and congresswomen of this august chamber for this opportunity. Rest assured, we will perform our task as a responsible minority of this august chamber," he said.
Libanan was a former chairman of the House committee on justice, and a former majority leader of the Commission on Appointments. He also served as a commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration during the Arroyo administration.
Bagong Henerasyon Rep. Bernadette Herrera was also elected as the Deputy Minority Leader.
Herrera said the House minority is looking forward to working with Speaker Martin Romualdez to ensure the passage of game-changing laws intended to fast-track the country’s recovery from the coronavirus disease pandemic.
“Our duty to the people includes the great and heavy responsibility of protecting the independence and integrity of the House of Representatives as an institution of democracy,” she said.
Other key roles
Other key positions in the House were also filled during the plenary session.
Quezon City Rep. Franz Pumaren, Batangas Rep. Lianda Bolilia, Malabon City Rep. Josephine Lacson-Noel, Pangasinan Rep. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas, and Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre were named as deputy majority leaders.
The elected assistant majority leaders were the following: Leyte Rep. Anna Victoria Veloso-Tuazon, Misamis Occidental Rep. Ando Oaminal, Tarlac Rep. Jaime Cojuangco, Leyte Rep. Richard Gomez, and AKO BICOL Party-list Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon were elected as assistant majority leaders.
Moreover, Northern Samar 1st district Rep. Paul Daza was elected as Senior Deputy Minority Leader. While the following were elected as deputy minority leaders: BH Party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera, Philreca Party-list Rep. Presley De Jesus, Basilan Lone District Rep. Mujiv Hataman, ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro, Samar 1st district Rep. Stephen James Tan, AAMBIS-OWA Party-list Rep. Lex Anthony Bolada, and An Waray Party-list Rep. Bem Noel.
Also elected as assistant minority leaders were: OFW Party-list Rep. Marissa Magsino, Northern Samar 2nd district Rep. Harris Ongchuan, 4Ps Party-list Rep. Jonathan Clement Abalos, Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Nicolas Enciso VIII, Gabriela Party-list Arlene Brosas, and APEC Party-list Rep. Sergio Dagooc.
