VOL XXX t. NO.39 ' 3 SECT|ONS 16 PACES. P18.THURSDAY, MARCH 21,20L9. \rww.manilastandard.net . mst.daydesk@gmail.

com

Solons upbeat on 'next Speake/

By Maricel V. Cruz 'much competent to lead the House givur
his track record as lawyer and public ser-
LAWMAKERS have expressed con- vanl" House Minorit Leader and
Que-
fidence that former Le)'te Rep. Martin .zon Rep. Danilo Suarez said.
Romualdez, whom presidential daugh- '!He is going to be a good Speakir," he
ter Sara Duterte-Capio declared will be added.
the next Speaker, will be able to steer "a On Wednesday, Duterte-Caryio intro-
more productive and responsive" House duced Romualdez as 'lhe next Speaker
of Representatives. ofthe House" during a campaign caravan
"Undoubte.dly he [Romualddz] is very Next page

Solons...
Frcn AI
of the Hugpong ng Pagbabago in Tacloban
City.
Romualdez. presidenr of the Philippine
Constitution Association, seryed as the
leader of the House's Independent Bloc
during hiS nine-year term in Congress
ftom 2007 to 2016.
Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III also
heaped praises on Romualdez.
"He is a good and brilliant lawy€r who
never lost a case. He is also fair and a
charming gentleman," he said.
Former Speaker and Quezon Ciry Rep.
Feliciano Belmonle Jr. cited his iormer
--
collbague's "good leadership qualities."
"During my speakership, he headed rhe
independent minoriry group yel proved to
be supportive and helped me in pushing
important measures," Belmonte said.
Romualdez, a lawyer and a banker, ear-
lier thanked the presidential daughter for
the trust arld confidence in him.
"I was humbled by the mere mention of
my name," he said.-

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