Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 7) – The revamp inside the House of Representatives continues as more allies of House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco were elected as deputy speakers.
Elected as deputy speakers on Monday were Negros Oriental 3rd district Rep. Arnolfo Teves, Pampanga 4th district Rep. Rimpy Bondoc, Valenzuela 2nd district Rep. Eric Martinez, BH Party-lis Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy, Ilocos Sur 2nd district Rep. Kristine Singson Meehan, Zamboanga del Sur 1st district Rep. Divina Grace Yu, Valenzuela 1st district Rep. Weslie Gatchalian, Lone District of Sarangani Rep. Rogelio Pacquiao, and Manila 6th district Rep. Benny Abante.
Since Velasco took over the House speakership last October, some allies of then speaker Alan Peter Cayetano have been booted out of their posts as deputy speakers.
In the process, Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel and Pampanga 3rd district Rep. Dong Gonzales lost their posts as deputy speakers. However, they were named as chairpersons of the Special Committee on Strategic Intelligence and Special Committee on Bases Conversion, respectively.
The following lawmakers were also elected as committee chairpersons: Lone District of Navotas Rep. John Rey Tiangco (Committee on Trade and Industry), La Union 2nd district Rep. Sandra Eriguel (Committee on Inter-parliamentary Relations and Diplomacy), and Quezon City 5th district Rep. Alfred Vargas (Committee on Social Services).
Pangasinan 6th district Rep. Tyrone Agabas and AMIN Party-list Rep. Amihilda Sangcopan were also elected as Deputy Majority Leader and Assistant Majority Leader, respectively.
Sulu 2nd district Rep. Munir Arbison, on the other hand, was elected as member of the House contingent to the Commission on Appointments.
