Rep. Castro steps down as president of National Unity Party

Capiz Representative Fredenil Castro has resigned as president and member of the National Unity Party, a major political bloc in the country.

Castro himself confirmed the development in an ANC interview on Monday.

According to Castro, he stepped down as president of the party out of "pure and simple delicadeza."

"I have resigned as president and member of the National Unity Party simply because that during the speakership race, I was unwavering and a frontliner for [Leyte Representative] Martin Romualdez," he said.

"I feel that I could no longer be effective as president of the party and as member of the party if I remain there because I took the opposite direction during the speakership," Castro added.

Romualdez was among those who sought the highest position at the House of Representatives for the 18th Congress. The others included Taguig City Representative Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco.

However, following the endorsement of no less than President Rodrigo Duterte, Cayetano was elected Speaker of the House, while Romualdez was installed Majority Leader.

During the speakership race, the National Unity Party supported Cayetano for the position.

"I said that since my position was opposite to that of the party, I feel that I am morally obliged to myself and to the party to resign as member and as president of the party," Castro said.

Castro admitted, however, that if Velasco had been elected Speaker, he would not have resigned from his own party.

"The reason is simple. Lord Allan Velasco was not the candidate of the National Unity Party. Therefore there was absolutely no reason for me to be resigning considering that I did not take an inconsistent position with that of my political party," he said.

Castro said he decided to choose a candidate on his own despite the will of his party taking cue from Duterte's advice to congressmen to vote according to their conscience.

"I am an advocate of democracy, and by President Duterte advocating to the congressmen that they should vote according to their conscience because he will not interfere in the speakership election, I said to myself that I would rather exercise my option to vote in accordance with my conscience," he said.

"At that point in time, I was convinced without a scintilla of reservation that Martin Romualdez was the most fitted to become Speaker of the House of Representatives," he added.

In the 17th Congress, Castro held the position of House Majority Leader during the latter part of former Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's term. He also a deputy speaker during the same Congress.

Castro's resignation came a few days after it was reported that Davao City Representative Paolo Duterte has been adopted by the National Unity Party.

The party will hold its annual meeting on Tuesday. —Erwin Colcol/KBK, GMA News