LIBERAL PARTY ENDORSES BELMONTE FOR SPEAKERSHIP
ROXAS CONFIDENT OUTGOING QC MAYOR WILL BEAT ARROYO

The Liberal Party (LP) formally approved yesterday the candidacy of incoming 4th district Rep. and current Quezon City Mayor Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte Jr. for House Speaker in the 15th Congress, LP President Senator Manuel "Mar" Roxas announced Wednesday night.

In a party caucus held at the LP headquarters in Quezon City, Roxas said Belmonte got the "unanimous" endorsement by the 30 members who attended the party's meeting.

"Siya ang aming susuportahan, siya ang aming ikakampanya at nakakasiguro ako na siya ang lalabas na Speaker (We will support him, we will campaign for him and I am confident that he will emerge as the Speaker)" Roxas said about the party's formal endorsement of Belmonte's bid for the speakership.

Roxas likewise disclosed that Quezon Rep. Erin Tañada has given way to Belmonte to ensure party unity.

Roxas expressed confidence that Belmonte will defeat incoming Pampanga 2nd district Rep. and outgoing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo or whoever the current administration party Lakas-Kampi-CMD will field for the House leadership.

Several congressmen from Lakas-Kampi, he added, had expressed interest to join the LP to be able to get committee chairmanships.