Albay Rep. Joey Salceda and Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Jill Bongalon on Friday, May 26, said their work has not been affected by the “demotion” of Pampanga Rep. Gloria M. Arroyo from Senior Deputy Speaker to Deputy Speaker and resignation of Vice President Sara Duterte from the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats.
"Mas marami po, natambak po sa akin ‘yung trabaho kasi naghabulan na. ‘Yun po ‘yung naging response ni Speaker Romualdez na mas lalong pabilisin ‘yung mga bills na nandun po sa amin sa Kongreso. Marami po yan, ‘yung domestic salt industry development, basta madami ‘yan na andun sa komitiba ko. Biglang dumami po ‘yung mga referral sa komitiba ko kaya nararamdaman ko na mas nag-focus sa trabaho kaysa mag-focus sa pulitika," Salceda said.
Salceda, chairman of the House Committee of on Ways and Means, said he and Ako-Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, have discussed priority bills before they adjourn sine die next month. "Katulad kahapon, nagmi-meeting pa kami ni Zaldy kung alin ‘yung mga bills na talagang uunahin," he said."Of course, there is an implication in the sense na kumbaga maiistorbo ang Kongreso when it comes to passage of important pieces of legislation dahil meron ugong na papalitan daw si Speaker Martin Romualdez, but based on the statement of Speaker Martin, normal na po tayo ngayon sa Kongreso, business as usual.
"Sana ‘wag na natin palakihin pa, dahil wala naman talagang sigalot ngayon sa Kongreso, what can I say is that the super majority of the members of the 19th Congress support Congressman Speaker Martin Romualdez," Bongalon added.