House Support Is Never Forced, Spokesperson Clarifies
In the House of Representatives, support is never forced but willingly given. This principle, emphasized by House Spokesperson lawyer Princess Abante, addresses recent reports about Cebu 5th district Rep. Vincent Franco “Duke” Frasco’s decision not to sign the manifesto backing House Speaker Martin Romualdez ahead of the 20th Congress.
“Sa Kamara po, malinaw ang prinsipyo: ang suporta ay hindi ipinipilit. Ito ay kusang loob na desisyon ng bawat kinatawan—at iyan ay iginagalang ng ating liderato,” Abante stated on the afternoon of June 7. (In the House, the principle is clear: support is never forced. It is a voluntary decision of each representative—a principle respected by our leadership.)
Widespread Backing for House Speaker Romualdez
Despite the news about Frasco’s non-signing, Abante emphasized that the majority of the solons who will comprise the 20th Congress have already shown their support. “Nais naming linawin na sa ngayon, 285 na miyembro ng House of Representatives ang nagpahayag—ng kanilang suporta sa pagpapatuloy ng liderato ni Speaker Romualdez para sa 20th Congress,” she added. (We would like to clarify that, as of now, 285 members of the House of Representatives have expressed their support for the continued leadership of Speaker Romualdez for the 20th Congress.)
Martin Romualdez, the representative from Leyte’s 1st district, has held the Speaker position since the 19th Congress began in July 2022. His leadership remains broadly accepted across many regions.
Frasco’s Role and Leadership Focus
Frasco, who serves as a deputy speaker in the current 19th Congress, stands out due to his decision not to sign the manifesto supporting Romualdez. However, Abante pointed out that the Speaker prefers to focus on genuine service rather than the noise surrounding signatures.
“Kaya sa halip na tumuon sa ingay, mas pipiliin ng ating lider na si Speaker Romualdez na manindigan sa katahimikan ng tunay na paglilingkod. Hindi mahalaga kung sino ang hindi pumirma. Mas mahalaga kung sino ang patuloy na naglilingkod,” she said. (Instead of focusing on the noise, our leader, Speaker Romualdez, chooses to stand firm in the silence of genuine service. It does not matter who did not sign. What matters is who continues to serve.)
Regional Support and Political Ties
Moreover, the House spokesperson assured that Romualdez still enjoys strong backing among congressmen from Central Visayas, Frasco’s home region. This regional support underscores Romualdez’s leadership influence despite isolated dissent.
It is also worth noting that Frasco is the son-in-law of the outgoing Cebu governor, a connection that adds a political dimension to the situation.
For more news and updates on House support, visit Filipinokami.com.