MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte will not endorse any lawmaker to become the next Speaker of the House of Representatives, Malacañang said Monday.
In a Palace briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo reiterated that Duterte never interferes with the affairs of other branches of government and will let the lawmakers decide who will be their next leader.
“The Palace never intrudes into the other branches,” Panelo said.
Asked if the President will back a specific lawmaker to be the next House Speaker, Panelo said: “He never does that. He allows everybody to seek whatever position they want and let the constituency of that class decide.”
Panelo, who is also Duterte’s chief legal counsel, started his Monday’s Malacañang briefing by sharing that he received a text message from an anonymous sender claiming that Davao del Norte Rep. Antonio Floirendo Jr. has joined the Speakership race.
“Antonio Floirendo is throwing his hat into the speakership. He’s vying for the speakership,” he said.
“When I received that message, I called him up, and he said ‘yes,’ and he said he will issue a statement on the matter,” Panelo added.
READ: Floirendo wants to be House Speaker
Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is set to vacate the House Speaker post as she is now on her third and final term as a lawmaker.
Duterte’s PDP-Laban party earlier expressed optimism that it can regain the House leadership after the May 13 polls.
Among the ruling party’s top contenders for the top House post are ousted Speaker Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez and Marinduque Rep. Allan Lord Velasco.
Duterte’s running mate in the 2016 presidential elections Alan Peter Cayetano, who is running as Taguig City First District Representative, is also reportedly eyeing the House Speakership. /ee
READ: PDP-Laban confident of regaining House Speakership