THE PHILIPPINE STAR
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By PAOLO ROMERO
Buoyed by its successful cam-
paign in the May 13 midterm
eleciions, the Partido Demokra-
tiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan
(PDP-Laban) is poised to secue
the leadership of the House of
Representatives, Sen. Aquilino
"o*oo",
Jo",o,,o',
Pimmtel flI said yesterday.
Thrc-e PDP-Laban lnembers
being eyed to replace former
are
president and Speaker Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo, Pimentel
added.
Pimentef president of PDP-
legislative
Laban said out of 234
districts the party secured 80
,
seats to rctain its Dosition as the
party in the comiirg 18th Congress.
dominant "li will be a cryi ng shame if the speaker- as speakerbecause he still has Joyal follow-
n .loeq
ship s.rto ti PDP-Laban member
does not goto ers in the House, Pimentel said.
We have a deep bmch capable anq
of very caPaDre
ch ot and Gonzales, the deputy maiodty leade4 is
verv comDetent Dartv rrfv leaders who are the national deputy campaign manager of
to prtfi for?resident Duterte's PDP-Laban and the party's regional presi-
"ottl-ltt".i
legislative a}enda," he said. dent for Central Luzon.
-Seen as PDP-Laban frontrunners for Gonzales is among the most senior mem-
speaker are former speaker and Davao dei bers of the House aid is considered as the
liorte Rep. Pantaleori Alvarez, who is PDP- oooular choice not onlv amonq PDP-Laban
Laban se'cretary gmeral; Pampanga Rep. inJmbers but also thos6 in the ftaioritv bloc.
Aurelio Conzales; and Marinduque Rep. Velasco is also a strong contender for the
Lord Allan Velasco. speakership not only because o{ his close
Victorious in what is considered as a ties with Davao Citv Mavor Sara Duterte-
political upsetin Davao del Nortds Political Carpio but also beciuse bf his popularity
history, Alvarez can still make a comeback am6ng yotmger members o{ dre House.
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