(Eagle News) — Manila Rep. Benny Abante is the new minority leader of the House of Representatives in the 18th Congress.
Abante’s election came a day after President Rodrigo Duterte’ State of the Nation Address, on Tuesday, July 23.
Abante was also nominated as House speaker in the first regular session of the House on Monday, July 22.
He, however, lost to Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano, who garnered 266 votes vis a vis the Manila representative’s 28 votes.
Only one congressman voted against Cayetano, while another two abstained.
Cayetano was President Rodrigo Duterte’s choice as House speaker.
Under a term-sharing agreement the chief executive backed, Cayetano would serve as top House official for 15 months.
He would then be followed by Rep. Lord Allan Velasco.