Abang Lingkod party-list group representative-elect Manuel Frederick Ko (center) with his family at his proclamation at the Manila Hotel Tent City on Monday afternoon.*
The Commission on Elections proclaimed Negros Occidental Board Member Manuel Frederick Ko as Abang Lingkod party-list group representative-elect at the Manila Hotel Tent City on Monday afternoon, May 19.
The newly proclaimed party-list representatives will comprise 20 percent of the total composition of the House of Representatives.
“I am deeply honored and humbled by this opportunity to serve as the new representative of Abang Lingkod”, Ko said. He replaces outgoing Abang Lingkod Rep. Stephen Paduano.
Meanwhile, at least four names are being floated for Speaker of the House in the 20th Congress.
Aside from current Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, they are billionaire Bacolod representative-elect Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, Rep. Angelo Marcos Barba (Ilocos Norte, 2nd District) and Rep. Tobias Tiangco (Navotas).
Benitez could not be reached for comment.
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said it would be great if Benitez becomes the Speaker of the House.
“Imagine if somebody from Negros Occidental will actually sit down as Speaker of the House. I don’t see any Negrense who would be against that. We’re hoping it can happen,” he said.*