Duterte meets 3 bets for House Speaker in Tokyo

President Rodrigo Duterte meets with Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, incoming Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, and incoming Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano, who are vying for the House Speaker post in the coming 18th Congress, in Tokyo on May 29, 2019. With them (left) is Senator-elect Christopher “Bong” Go. (Photo by CHRISTOPHER GO)

TOKYO, Japan — President Rodrigo Duterte met here on Wednesday with three lawmakers seeking the House speakership.

The President met with Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, incoming Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, and incoming Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano.

Photos shared by Senator-elect Christopher “Bong” Go showed the three smiling as they posed with the President.

President Rodrigo Duterte (right) and incoming Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Go, who is the President’s trusted aide, said the President did not want to meddle in the House speakership race.

“Ayaw sana makialam ng Pangulo kasi parehong magagaling na mambabatas. Pero nag kasundo ang tatlo na pag-isipan muna sana ng Pangulo para maka-trabaho na ang Kongreso pag-umpisa ng kanilang termino,” he said.

Velasco has said that his advantage to his competitors for the House speakership race was him being a “loyal friend” of the President.

READ: Romualdez Speakership bid gets support from 126 House members

Romualdez and Cayetano also signified their intention to run in the speakership race.

Other lawmakers seen vying for the post are former House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Paolo Duterte, who won as Davao City representative in the May 13 midterm elections. (Editor: Alexander T. Magno)

READ: Romualdez calls for unity to move economy forward