By: Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD City – All seven congressional district representatives of Negros Occidental voted for Taguig Rep. Alan Cayetano for House Speaker of the 18th Congress.
“I voted for him not because he is my classmate but because I believe in his leadership and capability as House Speaker,” said Bacolod lone district Rep. Greg Gasataya.
Negros Occ. 5th district Rep. Marilou Arroyo- Lesaca, who was reportedly not at the House, was said to have voted for Cayetano as well.
Bacolod reporters covering the election for the House Speakership on July 22, 2019 did not see Arroyo when her named was called.
A check with her staff indicated that Arroyo who was in a wheelchair, thus she was not able to get up and go to the rostrum to declare her vote. She only signaled that she was voting for Cayetano.
Other Negros Occidental representatives who voted for Cayetano were Gerardo Vallmayor (1st district), Rafael Leo Cueva (2nd district), Francisco Benitez (3rd district), Juliet Ferrer (4th district), and Genaro Alvarez (6th district).
Only Abang Lingkod party list Rep. Stephen Paduano, who hails from Negros, voted for Rep. Bienvenido Abante.
Paduano said he voted for Abante because he is from the minority.
Cayetano won the Speakership with 266 votes while Abante got 28 votes. Two abstained while one did not vote. (Photo Courtesy of PNA)
