MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte’s endorsement of candidates for Speaker of the House of Representatives was intended to save his weakening grip on the legislative, according to Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate.
In a message to reporters on Monday evening, Zarate said that Duterte broke his promise when he pried on the affairs of the House, especially in choosing the next Speaker.
“As expected, contrary to his previous statements letting members of the House to freely choose their leaders, President Duterte ‘stepped in’ in the House speakership race to salvage his already fractious coalition and, hopefully, secure its survival until 2022,” he said.
“The cracks, though, are already very apparent in the once supermajority coalition,” he added.
READ: Palace: No Duterte role in speakership fight
During an oath-taking ceremony for newly appointed officials in Malacañang on Monday afternoon, Duterte announced the term-sharing of Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco as Speaker of the House.
Meanwhile, Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, another Speaker contender, would be House Majority Leader, according to the President.
READ: Duterte pushes for Cayetano-Velasco term-sharing for Speaker
For Zarate, who is also vying for Speaker, such maneuvering has something to do with the 2022 presidential elections.
“Despite this term-sharing for convenience, the different factions and their political and economic backers are expected to still wage a war of dominance in the coming days, especially with 2022 presidential elections already in the political horizon,” he noted.
READ: Makabayan bloc to field Zarate for House Speaker
“As can be seen with the proposed agenda for the next Congress – Charter Change, term extension, and another TRAIN law are at the top. The Filipino people are again at the losing end with this development.”
“With this politics of convenience and presidential intervention, the independence of the House is again severely compromised and the interest of the majority of the people sacrificed,” he added. (Editor: Katherine G. Adraneda)
RELATED STORIES
Duterte meets 3 bets for House Speaker in Tokyo
LOOK: Duterte siblings meet with bets for Speaker
Paolo Duterte backs out of speakership race, backs Ungab bid