Paduano supported Abante, Arroyo-Lesaca missed the vote
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Six out of the eight legislators representing Negros Occidental in the House of Representatives backed Taguig-Pateros lone district Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano for house speaker yesterday. The final vote count saw 266 vote in favor of Cayetano, 28 backed Manila sixth district Rep. Bienvenido Abante, Jr., two abstained, and one no vote.
The local representatives who backed the former senator included Negros Occidental sixth district Rep. Genaro Alvarez, second district Rep. Rafael Leo Cueva, third district Rep. Francisco Benitez, fourth district Rep. Juliet Marie Ferrer, and first district Rep. Gerardo Valmayor; along with Bacolod City lone district Rep. Greg Gasataya.
Meanwhile, Abang Lingkod partylist Rep. Stephen Paduano supported Abante and Negros Occidental fifth district Rep. Marilou Arroyo-Lesaca was not present when the vote was held.
Last month, Paduano revealed the House of Representatives Visayan bloc, at the time, was still deciding on who to support for house speaker, identifying Marinduque lone district Rep. Lord Allan Jay Velasco and Leyte first district Rep. Martin Romualdez as their primary choices.
However, both Romualdez and Velasco, alongside Davao City first district Rep. Paolo Duterte, formally nominated Cayetano for the post./DGB, WDJ