surpnSes, eyes
speaker post
tool( an Ltnexpected t[rn on
TFI E speakersbip race
Tuesdal, when Davao Cily Rep. Paolo "Pulo'g"
Drterte announced that he might throw his hat
into the fing ilit would unify a "dividedl' llouse
of Qeprcscnt;rtivcs
Paolo; son ofPresident Rodrigo Dtterte, had eat-
lier said he was not interesled in beconringspeal<er
On Tuesday, however, he said he rnight join
1l1s spc.llir.rrhilr race tollowing T,'grrig Rr-p. \l,rn
Peter Cayetano's proposal for tern,sh aring in the
ldp House post.
"Moapil na ?o paglra-speaker (l am close to
l'SifttksrAS
&SPEAKER FROM A1
)aolo Duterte eyes speaker post
rnring for speaker). The House elect their speaker for their term
divided, I might be able to help share, and so with the Mindanao
nite it," the young Duterte said. bloc and the party-list coalition,"
" I(ung terrn-sharing, term-shar- the younger Duterte said.
tg na kaming lahat (If therc "We are not talking about two
'ould beterm sharing, then wery- persons here. We arePlking about
ne should share terms)," he said ourbeloved country lt is not about
I-le added that representatives speakership alonq but who is the.
'ho would take turns being right person to unite congress
:eaker i.rust be selected from apd I hdpe those running for the
liodanao, Visayas, Luzon and speakersn'ip stop influencing the
arty-list groups. cabinet, " he added.
"l wlll ask thd Visayas bloc to On Sunday, Paolo appealed to
@beffianilu T,imtla
vll
WEDNESDAY July3,201e
the public not to use his name in
the speakership to gairi traction
in what he described as a "dirty
and disrespectfu l" tlpe of politics,
referring to the term-sharing deal
constantly brought up by Cayetano
that was rejected by Marinduque
Rep. Lord Allan Velasco.
Velasco was named the can-
didate for speaker of the ruling
party, Partido Demokratiko Pilipi-
no-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
Key political groups wer€ quick
u.-tllorlr
1{1f w" rfi ,* n i I a t I *"?"} * s. n {} t
to express support for Paolo.
PDP'Iaban National Executive
Vice President Aurelio Conzales
said the 95 strong administration
party in the House would suppon
Paolo's bid,
'Assuming na si CongIressman]
Duterte ang magiging speaker
natin para wala nangdivision ang
Horsse, kung pbpasok [siya], lahat
kami susuporta (Assuming that
Congressman Duterte would want
to be owspeakerto r€hove the di-
vision inthe House, ifhe entersthe
rac4 all of.us will support him),"
he told reporters.
"Yung natching order, nang'
gagaling naman talaga sa Palace
l4.?€4
.':,.'.
'diba! Kaya lahat kami naghihintay said he would resign if th€
(The marching order comes fiom younger Duterte jo in ed th€
the Palace, right? That's why we
are allwaiting)," Gonzales noted.
speakership race.
Palace spokesman Salvador
The Partylist Coalition Founda- Panelo, however, said the Presi-
tion said itwould support whoever dent might change his nind on
will get the most votes. 'resigning.
Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, a "You make a stand on the basis
supporter of Rep. Maftin Ro-. of circumstances. When those
mualdez, said Paolo would circumstances change, you also
likely win the race. change your stand. So, that can
"Paolo will get300 and no need change " Panelo said.
to share term. Surely, IRomualdez] "The Presidem can change his
will give way. The long and shon of mind, Congressman Pacifo DuterLe
it it's still the President who will r.nay change his. Let us $ee. Let it
wield the sword," he said in his evolw" he added.
Facebook post. GLEE JALEA
Last month, the President AND RALPH U. VILLANUEVA