THANKFUL. Vice President-elect Sara Duterte and incoming House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez during the latter's oath-taking as Leyte First District representative on Wednesday (June 15, 2022). Duterte thanked Romualdez for helping her win in the May 9 elections. (Lakas- CMD photo)
TACLOBAN CITY – Vice President-elect Sara Duterte publicly thanked the incoming House Speaker Martin Romualdez for helping her win in the May 9 elections as she attended the latter’s oath-taking here on Wednesday.
During her brief speech, Duterte said she attended the oath-taking of Romualdez to thank the powerful clan for their support especially since she did not make it to the grand rallies of their team in the region last April.
“I would like to thank Romualdez for taking me in the Lakas-CMD (Christian Muslim Democrats) and accepting the challenge as one of my two campaign managers. You did very well. I thank you for your genuine love,” said Duterte during the event at the Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Medical Foundation gymnasium.
Witnessing the oath-taking are hundreds of local officials in the region including governors, vice governors, members of the House of Representatives, mayors, vice mayors, and councilors.
Romualdez, the current Majority Floor Leader and the cousin of President-elect Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., is the president of Lakas-CMD.
The presidential daughter and outgoing Davao City mayor is the party chairperson.
Other officials who took their oath are Tingog Party-list Rep. Yedda Marie, the wife of the incoming speaker; Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez, Martin’s cousin; and Jude Acidre, another representative of Tingog Party-list.
The Romualdez-led party-list ranked third among the groups with the highest votes garnered in the May 9 elections.
Martin, who ran unopposed in Leyte’s first district identified Duterte as a native of the region since her paternal grandmother’s roots are from Liloan in Southern Leyte.
“She is known for her conviction and compassion in leadership. Your concern for the welfare of the poor and the marginalized lies in the core of her character. I have no doubt that she will serve as the best Vice President we will ever have,” Martin added. (PNA)
