Quezon City Representative Feliciano Belmonte Jr. was elected House Speaker with 245 votes.
His rivals for the post, San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez received 18 and 16 votes respectively. As the second runner up for the speakership, Rep. Zamora automatically becomes the House Minority Leader.
“Our task in the next three years must be to resist the costly temptation of resting on our laurels, to inspire greater belief in our collective capacity for greater accomplishment within our country and outside, and to marshal government resources towards making possible a more vibrant and resilient economy and people,” Belmonte said in a speech after voting.
Belmonte, speaker since 2010, is a member of the ruling Liberal Party. Earlier Monday, Senator Franklin Drilon of the Liberal Party was elected Senate President.
Senator Ralph Recto, also from LP, was elected Senate President Pro Tempore while the Nacionalista Party’s Alan Peter Cayetano was designated chairman of the Committee on Rules. As chairman on Rules, Cayetano is also Senate Majority Leader.
Congressional leaders do not have fixed terms and rely on support from their colleagues.
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Photo: Sonny SB Belmonte Facebook page
