MikeLigalig.com

By Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Goodbye rainbow coalition of Lakas-Kampi-CMD. Hello CORE (Conscience and Reform) coalition of the Liberal Party.

Allies of Sen. Benigno Aquino III, the most likely president-elect, are gathering their forces in the House of Representatives to install Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. as Speaker in the 15th Congress.

They are belittling the chances of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, newly elected representative of Pampanga’s second district, to gather enough votes to pip the incoming president’s choice.

The 73-year-old Belmonte, the newly elected representative of Quezon City’s fourth district, served as Speaker in the 11th Congress.

Deputy Majority Leader and Mandaluyong City Rep. Neptali Gonzales II, who won a second straight term, said the CORE alliance’s base would be composed of 44 Liberal Party congressional candidates who won in the elections.