MANILA, Philippines—“Have you heard of wishful thinking?”
President Rodrigo Duterte said this Thursday as he downplayed the claims of his son Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte that Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano may face a coup challenging his bid for Speaker.
Duterte earlier announced that Cayetano would share the three-year Speaker term with Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco while Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez would be the Majority Leader.
Cayetano would serve for the first 15 months, while Velasco will take over in the remaining 21 months.
Asked if he is confident Cayetano had the numbers to get to the top House post, Duterte said, “He will.”
Earlier, Paolo hinted that a possible coup on July 22 when the 18th Congress would vote for its new Speaker.
“May election pa sa July 22 at doon ako mas interesado, kung sino ang manalo. Kasi may balita-balita, may isa sa 3 na balak mag coup d’etat on the day. Mukhang ‘di pa tapos ang laban para sa kanilang 3 sa mga backers,” said Paolo told INQUIRER.net. /je
READ: Paolo Duterte says speaker race far from over, hints at looming coup