section_path: Speakership election
section_name: Speakership election
paragraph_text: Speakership election
  
  Allies of outgoing speaker Martin Romualdez are thought to back him to be reelected, and are also thought to have the numbers to keep him on that position. Toby Tiangco, the campaign manager of Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial ticket, said that the House's last-minute impeachment of Sara Duterte hurt the chances of the administration ticket from winning more seats in the Senate election. He also floated his name as a potential candidate for House speaker. When asked about this, he said "I will do whatever is best for the President. If its best for the President that Martin Romualdez remains Speaker, I will support what he thinks is best for him." Jude Acidre, a close Romualdez ally, belied Tiangco's pronouncements, saying 100 out 115 lawmakers who voted for impeachment defended their seats. including 36 out of 44 pro-impeachment lawmakers in Mindanao. After a meeting on May 16, David Suarez, with around 240 congressmen have signed the manifesto supporting Romualdez, he said that "It's over. The Speaker has the numbers.
  
  In a separate TV interview, Tiangco revealed that Sandro Marcos, the president's son, got caught up in voting for Duterte's impeachment. Tiangco declined to share details, as he said that Marcos did not initiate what happened and to just leave him out of it. Marcos, when earlier interviewed on February, did not sound coerced when asked on why he was the first person to sign off on the impeachment.
  
  Meanwhile, Sara Duterte said she had asked her brother Paolo to run for speaker; if he loses, he can be minority floor leader instead. The vice president said she was not approached by anyone to be her candidate for speaker or for the Senate presidency. Other possible candidates include Albee Benitez, who first lady Liza Araneta Marcos is reportedly in favor of, and Angelo Marcos Barba. There were even reports of Sandro Marcos replacing Romualdez on its lame duck session, but ranking congressional leaders denied efforts to remove Romualdez from office. On May 26, Suarez said they have already secured formal declarations supporting Romualdez from 278 representatives, with a total of 285 expressing support.