The Partido Federal ng Pilipinas has strengthened its position in the House of Representatives, growing from 38 to 54 members, PFP president and South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo revealed yesterday. Most new members were formerly affiliated with Lakas-CMD, led by ex-speaker Martin Romualdez. Tamayo confirmed a Politiko report to The STAR.
PFP president and South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo revealed that the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas has grown from 38 to 54 members in the House of Representatives. The party, chaired by President Marcos, gained lawmakers mostly from Lakas-CMD, led by ex-speaker Martin Romualdez. Tamayo confirmed a Politiko report to The STAR. The new members include Reps. Antonio Albano (Isabela), Agatha Cruz, Salvador Pleyto and Mark Violago (Bulacan), Mikaela Suansing (Nueva Ecija), Zaldy Villa (Siquijor), Patrick Michael Vargas (Quezon City), Lordan Suan (Cagayan de Oro), Miro Quimbo (Marikina), Francisco Matugas (Surigao del Norte) and Joseph Tan (Isabela). Other PFP members are presidential son and Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos and Speaker Faustino Dy III. Key roles held by newcomers: Albano is vice chairman of the suffrage and electoral reforms committee and sits on appropriations; Cruz is an assistant majority leader and vice chair of basic education, foreign affairs, public information and ways and means; Pleyto heads government reorganization; Violago is vice chair on games and amusement; Suansing chairs appropriations; Villa holds vice chairmanships in agriculture, energy, tourism and trade; Vargas, a deputy majority leader, sits on all committees; Suan chairs public information; Quimbo heads ways and means; Matugas leads land use; Tan is vice chair of appropriations and flagship projects. Meanwhile, last Wednesday, Reps. Rachel Arenas (Pangasinan), Duke Frasco (Cebu) and Albee Benitez (Bacolod) were elected deputy speakers. South Cotabato Rep. Ferdinand Hernandez remains senior deputy speaker. Other deputies include Janette Garin, Yasser Alonto Balindong, Paolo Ortega V, Jefferson Khonghun, Kristine Singson-Meehan, Ronaldo Puno, Ferjenel Biron, Raymond Democrito Mendoza, Yevgeny Vincente Emano and Jayjay Suarez.
