Pro-Marcos Majority Faces Discord in House Leadership
Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte has openly criticized Deputy Speaker Cebu 5th district Rep. Vincent Franco “Duke” Frasco for allegedly creating divisions within the pro-Marcos majority coalition in the House of Representatives. Villafuerte, who leads the National Unity Party (NUP), accused Frasco of undermining the group’s solidarity by withdrawing support for House Speaker Martin Romualdez’s continued leadership in the 20th Congress.
“All members of the supermajority coalition, except Duke, firmly back Speaker Martin [Romualdez] to continue leading the House of Representatives in the next Congress and help advance President Marcos’ agenda for better lives for all Filipinos,” Villafuerte said in a statement on Monday, June 9. “So we don’t understand what discord he is referring to.”
Frasco had claimed that he withdrew his support because, in his view, the pursuit of national unity under the Marcos presidency has been “undermined by political and personal interests.” Villafuerte dismissed this explanation as mere rhetoric, pointing out that Frasco himself is the source of disunity.
Allegations of Self-Interest Amid Political Rift
Villafuerte further accused Frasco of prioritizing his own personal and partisan aims. He suggested that Frasco’s rejection of the official NUP stance supporting Romualdez was a calculated political move to pressure the House Speaker into retaining him as deputy speaker in the upcoming Congress.
Frasco is one of only eight deputy speakers in the 300-plus member chamber during the 19th Congress. Notably, he is also the son-in-law of former Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, who recently lost her reelection bid. Over the weekend, Frasco was expelled from NUP due to his unilateral decision not to support Romualdez.
On Monday, Frasco explained in a Facebook post that his choice was made after consulting fellow legislators, leaders, and constituents in Cebu. However, Villafuerte questioned the authenticity of these consultations, saying, “Such consultations could just be a figment of his imagination. If they did happen, as a loyal NUP member, he should have raised this issue with party leaders first instead of going straight to the media.”
Unity in the Midst of Political Challenges
Villafuerte emphasized that while they respect Frasco’s right to his individual position, it is crucial not to equate one person’s stance with that of the entire party. He reiterated that Romualdez remains President Marcos’ key ally in Congress and that the pro-Marcos majority still stands united behind him.
The ongoing dispute highlights the fragile dynamics within the ruling coalition as it prepares for the next legislative session. Despite this, Villafuerte’s remarks suggest the majority alliance is determined to maintain focus on their shared goal: supporting the President’s agenda for national progress.
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