Sen. Manny Pacquiao and Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. in a dinner meeting on Tuesday, June 11, 2019, with (left of Pacquiao) 1-Pacman Rep. Enrico Pineda, Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, (right of Pimentel) Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, and Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr. (Photo from RON MUNSAYAC / PDP-Laban public information committee chair)
MANILA, Philippines — The leaders of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) have given Sen. Manny Pacquiao the task of announcing the ruling party’s official contender for the speakership race in the House after an agreed-upon process.
Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, the PDP-Laban president, bared this after their Tuesday dinner-meeting with reelected Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, who was a former Speaker of the lower congress; Marinduque Rep. Lord Alan Velasco, and Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr. — who are all vying for the position.
“I have designated Sen Manny Pacquiao to be the authorized person to announce the PDP LABAN nominee for House Speaker. He will do so after following an agreed-upon process. Beginning tonight, Sen Pacquiao is now the person in charge of announcing the party’s choice,” Pimentel told INQUIRER.net in a text message.
He said the meeting at Pacquiao’s Makati residence was “nice,” and “very friendly with great camaraderie.”
Also at the meeting was 1-Pacman Rep. Enrico Pineda.
INQUIRER.net tried to get in touch with Pacquiao for further details, but he has yet to reply as of posting time.
Two other lawmakers will join the speakership battle — Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats and Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano of the Nacionalista Party.
(Editor: Alexander T. Magno)