PDP-Laban to announce House Speaker nominee before Saturday — Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday said the ruling party, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), is targeting to select their House Speaker nominee before Saturday.

The senator said they are eyeing to select the party’s nominee before he leaves for his boxing match in the United States on Saturday.

“Baka. [Kasi] napag-usapan naman namin kagabi na before ako umalls matapos na itong problema (We discussed yesterday that we should settle this before I leave),” Pacquiao said.

Pacquiao said the party still needs to consult with party chair President Rodrigo Duterte before revealing the party’s nominee.

“Hindi pa tayo nakapag-finalize sa napili kung sino sa partido. Ikokonsulta din natin sa Pangulo, alam nyo naman ang Pangulo PDP (We have not finalized the party choice. We will consult the President. You know, he is also the president of PDP),” Pacquiao said in a press briefing in Pasay City.

Pacquiao revealed this following a dinner meeting at his residence on Tuesday night attended by party chairman Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and House speakership aspirants — Davao del Norte and former House speaker Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, and Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr.

Aside from Alvarez, Velasco, and Gonzales, Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats and Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano of the Nacionalista Party are also vying for the top post in the lower chamber.

Pimentel earlier said that PDP-Laban, chaired by President Duterte, won 80 seats in the 18th Congress.

The next House Speaker will be elected at the opening of the 18th Congress on July 22. (Editor: Eden Estopace)