THE House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly, 227 against 29, for Quezon City Rep. Feliciano Belmonte Jr. as the House Speaker.
The House session started at exactly 10 a.m. with Secretary General Marilyn Barua Yap presiding over the proceedings.
Liberal Party (LP) secretary general and Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya nominated Belmonte while Representatives Bernadeth Herrera Dy, Arnulfo Fuentebella, Rolando Andaya, Jesus Crispin Remulla, and Vincent Crisologo, seconded the motion.
Belmonte went up against Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, who was nominated by fellow Lakas-Kampi-CMD member Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano, Rep. Danilo Suarez, and Rep. Augusto Syjuco Jr.
All in all, 258 House members attended the opening of the session and nearly 88 percent of them (or 237 members) voted for Belmonte.
Belmonte previously held the House’s top post from Jan. 24, 2001 to June that same year. He then went on to serve as Quezon City mayor until winning as congressman of the city’s fourth district during the recent May 10 polls. (PIA-Bohol)
