More Velasco-allied solons elected deputy speakers

More lawmakers allied with incumbent Speaker Lord Allan Velasco were elected on Monday as new deputy speakers at the House of Representatives.

During its plenary session, the House designated nine more lawmakers as deputy speakers at the chamber:

• Negros Oriental Representative Arnulfo Teves
• Pampanga 4th District Representative Juan Pablo "Rimpy" Bondoc
• Valuenzuela City 2nd District Representative Eric Martinez
• Bagong Henerasyon party-list Representative Bernadette Herrera
• Ilocos Sur Representative Kristine Singson-Meehan
• Zamboanga Del Sur Representative Divina Grace Yu
• Sarangani Representative Rogelio Pacquiao
• Valenzuela City 1st District Representative Weslie Gatchalian
• Manila Representative Bienvenido Abante Jr.

Meanwhile, Surigao Del Sur Representative Johnny Pimentel and Pampanga 3rd District Representative Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales, who are Velasco's party mates at PDP-Laban, were removed as deputy speakers.

They were instead elected as chairpersons of the Special Committee on Strategic Intelligence, and of the Special Committee on Bases Conversion, respectively.

Pimentel and Gonzales replaced Capiz Representative Fredenil Castro and Cavite Representative Francis Gerald Abaya from their new positions.

Following the election of several lawmakers as deputy speakers, other congressmen were installed to the other leadership positions they previously held.

Gatchalian, for one, was replaced by Navotas City Representative John Reynald Tiangco as chair of the House Committee on Trade and Industry, while La Union Representative Sandra Eriguel was elected chair of the Committee on Inter-parliamentary Relations And Diplomacy, replacing Yu.

Quezon City Representative Alfred Vargas then replaced Eriguel as chairperson of the House Committee on Social Services.

Meanwhile, Pangasinan Representative Tyrone Agabas was elected deputy majority leader replacing Herrera, while AMIN party-list Representative Amihilda Sangcopan was designated as assistant majority leader replacing Singson-Meehan.

Sulu Representative Munir Arbison was also elected as a member of the House contingent to the Commission on Appointments.

The revamp in the leadership positions at the House began as early as the first week of Velasco's term as Speaker.

Among the lawmakers who lost deputy speakership are Camarines Sur Representative Luis Raymund Villafuerte, Laguna Representative Dan Fernandez, and Batangas Representative Raneo Abu, who are known allies of former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano. — BM, GMA News