They’re closing ranks.,The Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), led by Senate President Tito Sotto, has formalized its support of the speakership bid of House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, a cousin of presumptive President Bongbong Marcos.,Romualdez, Lakas-CMD president, joined NPC’s fellowship dinner hosted by NPC Sec. Gen. Mark Llandro “Dong” Mendoza and Quezon Rep. Mark Enverga on 21 May at Makati Diamond Residences.,At the dinner, Sotto officially declared the NPC’s support for Romualdez’s bid to become Speaker of the 19th Congress.,“We assure you [party members] that this party has always been there, strong, will remain strong and under the leadership of the new Speaker Martin Romualdez, I’m sure that we will have a very good 19th Congress in the House of Representatives,” said Sotto.,He added that NPC is the second largest and the most loyal political party in the country.,Rizal 1st District Rep. Jack Duavit said the NPC is a solid partner of Romualdez in pursuing the legislative agenda of the incoming administration.,“We just like you (Romualdez) to know that we are not just going to be your partners, we are always your friends, you can count on our support because we know that your cousin and yourself are out to rebuild this nation and we want to be a part of that,” Duavit said in his speech.,Senator-elect Chiz Escudero todl Romualdez that NPC will be his steady partner in the next Congress.,“Even if the members of NPC are not that many, we hold the same conviction. We have the same position and we are always united, with the same goal, aspiration, and dream for the country,” Escudero said.,Romualdez thanked the Sotto and the NPC members for the expressions of support.,“We will have a great partnership with the Senate and of course in consonance with the legislative agenda of the [incoming] administration. I am sure that at the heels of this pandemic, we will be on the road to recovery not just health-wise, but economically, that’s what we look forward to,” Romualdez said.