7 hours ago
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FORMER Press Secretary and political analyst Trixie Cruz-Angeles cast doubt on the House of Representatives’ claim that 287 out of 317 lawmakers have signed a manifesto of support for Speaker Martin Romualdez’s bid to retain the speakership in the next Congress, calling the figure “not true.”
“There is no such 287,” Cruz-Angeles stated in an interview.
CALLING OUT CLAIMS Speaker Martin Romualdez at the rostrum of the House of Representatives. As internal dissent simmers, former Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles challenged the Speaker’s claim of having 287 signatories backing his speakership bid, calling it ‘not true.' PHOTO FROM HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Cruz-Angeles cited the recent public position of Cebu Representative Duke Frasco — who openly declined to sign the manifesto — as a clear indicator that not all lawmakers are aligned behind Romualdez’s leadership.
“Frasco’s refusal to sign speaks volumes. If the speaker truly had a lock on 287 members, the absence of one name wouldn’t have sparked this much noise,” she said. “But the moment Frasco stood his ground, it became obvious — Romualdez’s support base is no longer as solid.”
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Cruz-Angeles also pointed to the growing signs of division within the House of Representatives, noting that Romualdez's once-solid grip on the chamber appears to be weakening.
“There’s a growing resistance. There’s a ‘filibustero’ in the House,” Cruz-Angeles said, warning that quiet but mounting dissent could make it harder for Romualdez to govern effectively.
Frasco, a house deputy speaker and member of a powerful political clan in Cebu, said his decision not to sign the manifesto was based on consultations with local leaders from the Visayas and Mindanao, citing growing frustration among his constituents and fellow lawmakers over the perceived breakdown of unity in the House.
According to Cruz-Angeles, contrary to what the House is portraying, it is clear that the support from the lawmakers for Romualdez is no longer as solid, so there is no certainty that he will still be chosen as house speaker.
It can be remembered that just two days after the May 12 election, lawmakers were being asked to sign a manifesto of support for Romualdez’s bid for the speakership.
