Nograles' first promise: No broken promises

Keeping with his promises was the first promise the new House Speaker Prospero Nograles Jr made as he took over the reins of Congress from Jose De Venecia Jr early Tuesday. Nograles, who thanked De Venecia for nominating him, said he accepts the challenge of his new post and vowed to continue reforms and improve the image of the Lower House. "I accept the challenge to continue reforms in this chamber and to improve the image the House. But I will never make promises that I cannot keep," Nograles said. Nograles also thanked De Venecia for "all the things he has done for the House of Representatives," and asked everyone to "respect the vote we have made today." "There were harsh words on some controversial issues that were raised, which will all be addressed and answered at the proper time. Not now," he said. The House of Representatives early Tuesday voted unanimously to elect Nograles as the new Speaker minutes after a motion to declare the position of Speaker vacant was approved 174-35. Saying he wanted to rapidly unite this divided House, De Venecia himself nominated Nograles and acclaimed him both as an outstanding leader of Congress and a good friend. De Venecia expressed hopes Nograles will continue the reforms he put in place, including the biometrics-based electronic voting system that will be inaugurated in the next two weeks. "This will make the House of Representatives one of the first parliaments in Southeast Asia to have computerized voting," De Venecia said. - GMANews.TV