Duterte won’t endorse any bet for Speaker, Senate President

TOKYO – President Rodrigo Duterte would not endorse any lawmaker for the Speakership race, Malacañang said on Thursday following the meeting of three contenders with the chief executive here.

The President met with Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, incoming Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, and incoming Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday night at the Imperial Hotel.

READ: Duterte meets 3 bets for House Speaker in Tokyo 

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the gathering was a mere “social visit.”

“Alam mo yung kagabi, social visit lang yun. Courtesy call, so hindi napag usapan yun. Nagbigay galang lang sila sa Presidente,” Panelo told reporters here.

“Pangalawa, si Presidente hindi makikialam sa Speakership contest. Bahala ang mga miyembro ng Kamara de Representes kung sino ang bobotohin dun,” he added.

Panelo said Duterte would also not interfere in choosing the next Senate President.

“The President will never intercede or interfere with the affairs of the Senate or the House of Reps. Pababayaan lang ni Presidente yun; sila-sila lang yung mag-uusap,” he said.

Former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, a PDP-Laban stalwart, was also reportedly vying for the post. But Panelo maintained that Duterte, who is the ruling party’s chairman, would not meddle in the Speakership race.

“Basta hindi siya makikialam, bahala na yung mga miyembro,” he said.