By I. Inojales | 10:29 AM, July 30, 2025
MANILA, Philippines — Bohol 1st District Rep. John Geesnell “Baba” Yap II has been elected as one of the 23 Assistant Majority Leaders in the House of Representatives for the 20th Congress.
Yap joins a diverse group of legislators named to assist Majority Leader Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos and Senior Deputy Majority Leader Iloilo Rep. Lorenz Defensor in steering the legislative agenda.
Other Assistant Majority Leaders include:
Maguindanao del Norte Rep. Bai Dimple Mastura
Cebu Reps. Rhea Mae Gullas and Patricia Calderon
Zamboanga del Norte Rep. Roberto Uy Jr.
Bulacan Rep. Agatha Paula Cruz
Davao del Norte Rep. De Carlo Uy
Davao de Oro Rep. Leonel Ceniza
Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson
Las Piñas Rep. Mark Anthony Santos
Batangas Reps. Leandro Collantes and Ryan Recto
Quezon City Rep. Juan Carlos Atayde
Mandaluyong Rep. Alexandria Gonzales
Cavite Rep. Francisco Barzaga
Maguindanao del Sur Rep. Esmael Mangudadatu
Sultan Kudarat Rep. Bella Vanessa Suansing
Negros Occidental Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez
Zamboanga Rep. Katrina Reiko Chua-Tai
Taguig Rep. Jorge Daniel Bocobo
Uswag Ilonggo party-list Rep. James Ang Jr.
FPJ Panday Bayanihan party-list Rep. Brian Poe
Trabaho party-list Rep. Johanne Monich Bautista
Deputy Majority Leader:
Iloilo City Rep. Julienne Baronda
Pangasinan Rep. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas
Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong
Quezon City Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas
Cotabato Rep. Alana Samantha Santos
Manila Rep. Ernesto Dionisio Jr.
Zamboanga del Sur Rep. Jeyzel Victoria Yu
Oriental Mindoro Rep. Arnan Panaligan
Pampanga Rep. Alyssa Michaela Gonzales
Sorsogon Rep. Marie Bernadette Escudero
Capiz Rep. Ivan Howard Guintu
Sorsogon Rep. Wowo Fortes
Palawan Rep. Gil Acosta Jr.
Cavite Rep. Adrian Jay Advincula
Leyte Rep. Anna Veloso-Tuazon
Cavite Rep. Crispin Diego Remulla
Camarines Sur Rep. Vincenzo Renato Luigi Villafuerte
TGP party-list Rep. Jose Teves
Kapuso PM party-list Rep. Munir Arbison Jr.
1-Rider party-list Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez
Rep. Lorenz Defensor, who previously served as floor leader before the official elections, was named Senior Deputy Majority Leader during Tuesday’s House session, a post formerly held by Sandro Marcos in the 19th Congress. His nomination was formally moved by Marcos and approved by Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez without objection.
The House also elected 21 Deputy Majority Leaders, bringing the total number of Deputy and Assistant Majority Leaders to 43. Among them are Iloilo City Rep. Julienne Baronda, Pangasinan Rep. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas, Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, and Quezon City Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas, among others.
Negros Occidental Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez expressed his gratitude and commitment following his appointment:
“My appointment as one of the Assistant Majority Leaders of the 20th Congress is both a privilege and a responsibility that I accept with humility and firm resolve to serve with purpose,” Benitez said in a Facebook post.
“We are working together with Majority Leader Sandro Marcos to ensure an efficient and productive flow of legislative work in Congress.”
Prior to these elections, Speaker Romualdez administered the oath of office to Deputy Speakers, Secretary General Reginald Velasco, and Sergeant-at-Arms, retired Police Maj. Gen. Napoleon Taas.
