MANILA, Philippines – It’s barely a day before the 18th Congress officially opens, with the opposition House members facing the same old but yet dangerous prospects of a chamber run by the allies and family members of President Rodrigo Duterte. Salceda said PDP-Laban has 84 members elected in the House, while another 25 form part of various local political parties including HNP. After presidential son and Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte had threatened to join the fiasco that is the Speaker race, Sara’s HNP fielded Davao City 3rd District Rep. Isidro Ungab for the Speaker seat. Members of the House are set to elect their Speaker at the inaugural opening of the 18th Congress on July 22. When all else fails, Encinas-Franco said the opposition could reach out to every Filipino’s “societal accountability” to pressure House members against legislating deplorable bills.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer July 21, 2019 11:34 UTC