By Jennifer T. Santos

QUEZON CITY – After electing Speaker Martin Romualdez by a supermajority of 269 members with 34 abstentions, the House of Representatives elected leaders to several key committees, including the powerful Appropriations, Rules, and Quad Committees.

 Nueva Ecija 1st District Rep. Mikaela Angela “Mika” Suansing was chosen to chair the Committee on Appropriations, one of the most influential panels in the House with jurisdiction over the national budget. 

 Suansing, one of the leaders of the House Young Guns, will be assisted by Bataan 2nd District Rep. Albert Garcia, who was elected senior vice chair. Her leadership comes at a critical time, with the House set to begin deliberations once the proposed 2026 national budget is submitted by the Executive branch. 

 Speaker Romualdez has been a strong advocate for opening to public the traditionally closed bicameral conference committee (bicam) and allow members of civil society to observe.

 The Quad Comm, composed of the Committees on Dangerous Drugs, Public Order and Safety, Human Rights and Public Accounts, was also organized with  Bukidnon 2nd District Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores as chair of the Committee on Dangerous Drugs; Manila 2nd District Rep. Rolando Valeriano, chair, Committee on Public Order and Safety; Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr., reelected chair of the Committee on Human Rights. 

At press time, the House has yet to elect a new chair for the Committee on Public Accounts. 

 Davao de Oro 1st District Rep. Maria Carmen Zamora was elected chair of the Committee on Accounts. The chamber also elected Marikina 2nd District Rep. Miro Quimbo as chair of the Committee on Ways and Means, which handles tax and revenue legislation, with Manila 1st District Rep. Ernesto “Ernix” Dionisio Jr. as senior vice chair. 

 Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua was retained as chair of the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, while Cagayan de Oro 1st District Rep. Lordan Suan now heads the Committee on Public Information.

 To support Majority Leader and Rules Committee chair Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos, the House elected Iloilo 3rd District Rep. Lorenz Defensor as senior deputy majority leader. 

 The newly elected deputy majority leaders are Reps. Julienne “Jam” Baronda (Iloilo City, Lone District), Marlyn Primicias-Agabas (Pangasinan, 6th District), Zia Alonto Adiong (Lanao del Sur, 1st District), Patrick Michael Vargas (Quezon City, 5th District), Ma. Alana Samantha Santos (Cotabato, 3rd District), Ernesto Dionisio Jr. (Manila, 1st District), Jeyzel Victoria Yu (Zamboanga del Sur, 2nd District), Arnan Panaligan (Oriental Mindoro, 1st District), Alyssa Michaela “Mica” Gonzales (Pampanga, 3rd District), Marie Bernadette Escudero (Sorsogon, 1st District), Ivan Howard Guintu (Capiz, 1st District), Wowo Fortes (Sorsogon, 2nd District), Adrian Jay Advincula (Cavite, 3rd District), Anna Victoria Veloso-Tuazon (Leyte, 3rd District), Crispin Diego Remulla (Cavite, 7th District), Vincenzo Renato Luigi Villafuerte (Camarines Sur, 2nd District), Jose “Bong” Teves Jr. (TGP Party-list), Munir Arbison Jr. (KAPUSO PM Party-list), and Ramon Rodrigo “Rodge” Gutierrez (1-RIDER Party-list). 

 The new assistant majority leaders are Reps. Bai Dimple Mastura (Maguindanao del Norte, Lone District), Rhea Mae Gullas (Cebu, 1st District), Daphne Lagon (Cebu, 6th District), Roberto “Pinpin” Uy Jr. (Zamboanga del Norte, 1st District), Agatha Paula Aguilar Cruz (Bulacan, 5th District), De Carlo Uy (Davao del Norte, 1st District), Leonel Ceniza (Davao de Oro, 2nd District), Ronald Singson (Ilocos Sur, 1st District), Mark Anthony Santos (Las Piñas City, Lone District), King Collantes (Batangas, 3rd District), Patricia Calderon (Cebu, 7th District), Juan Carlos “Arjo” Atayde (Quezon City, 1st District), Alexandria Gonzales (Mandaluyong City, Lone District), John Geesnell “Baba” Yap II (Bohol, 1st District), Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga (Cavite, 4th District), Ralph Wendel Tulfo (Quezon City, 2nd District), Esmael Mangudadatu (Maguindanao del Sur, Lone District), Bella Vanessa Suansing (Sultan Kudarat, 2nd District), Javier Miguel Lopez Benitez (Negros Occidental, 3rd District), Katrina Reiko Chua-Tai (Zamboanga City, 1st District), Jorge Daniel Bocobo (Taguig City, Lone District – 2nd Councilor District), Ryan Recto (Batangas, 6th District), James “Jojo” Ang (USWAG ILONGGO Party-list), Brian Poe-Llamanzares (FPJ PANDAY BAYANIHAN Party-list), and Johanne Monich Bautista (TRABAHO Party-list). 

 Earlier, Speaker Romualdez administered the oath of office to Majority Leader Marcos; and nine deputy speakers, namely Janette Garin (Iloilo, 1st District), Yasser Alonto Balindong (Lanao del Sur, 2nd District), Francisco Paolo Ortega V (La Union, 1st District), Jefferson Khonghun (Zambales, 1st District), Kristine Singson-Meehan (Ilocos Sur, 2nd District), Ronaldo Puno (Antipolo City, 1st District), Faustino Dy III (Isabela, 6th District), Ferjenel Biron (Iloilo, 4th District) and Raymond Democrito Mendoza (TUCP Party-list). Speaker Romualdez also administered the oath of Secretary General Reginald Velasco and Sergeant-at-Arms retired Police Maj. Gen. Napoleon Taas. (Jennifer T. Santos)