An addendum to the excitement in the current electoral campaign is the announcement by re-electionist Rep. Antonio R. Floirendo Jr. of Davao del Norte’s Second District that he would seek the position of Speaker of the House when the new Congress convenes next June.
All indications show that Tonyboy, also known as “TBF” in the corporate and political worlds, is serious about his announced aspiration. His announcement is warmly welcomed by most other incumbent congressmen specially those whose return to the House in the May balloting is considered a cinch due to proven hold of their respective bailiwicks. It maybe noted that this is the same group that ousted Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez from the speakership and replaced him posthaste with Pampanga Rep. and former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo last year.
That the ouster, widely reported to be orchestrated by Davao City Mayor and Hugpong ng Pagbabago founding leader Sara Duterte, was supported by a big majority clearly indicates how disenchanted the House members were with Alvarez’s leadership.
During last week’s press conference at the White House restaurant in Camella Northpoint, Davao City, Tonyboy himself articulated his own plight as a victim of the Alvarez speakership. He recalled that in 2018, his district had “zero budget” which he attributed to his well-known tiff with the then Speaker.
He said this will never happen to any congressional district in the country under a Floirendo speakership. “No zero budget; even opposition congressmen will be given their corresponding budget,” he said during the presscon.
“Nung ginawa nila iyon, hind ako ang sinasaktan nila kundi and tao (When they did that to me, it was not I who was being hurt by them, but the people),” Floirendo said.
During his leadership of the House, Floirendo promised to be transparent and fair. He said he is aspiring to be House Speaker because he wants to help President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.
Indeed, the prospect of Floirendo’s assuming the fourth most powerful position in the land is exciting specially to the people of Mindanao who stand to benefit from his newly-acquired clout. With him at the helm of the House, Mindanaoans can expect a bonanza of more big ticket projects. His speakership is bound to happen also because of the expected support of no less than President Duterte and the HNP political juggernaut headed by Mayor Inday.
