Cayetano: Paolo Duterte set to be House Deputy Speaker

Screenshot of Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano’s Facebook post.

MANILA, Philippines – House Speaker candidate and Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano has ended rumors of discord between him and Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte, announcing that the latter will likely be the Deputy Speaker for Political Affairs.

According to a Facebook story posted by Cayetano on Friday where he and Duterte are seen shaking hands, they have discussed what the country needs and how the House of Representatives could be more “responsive.”

“Thank you very much Cong. Paolo ‘Pulong’ Duterte for our talk on what the country needs and how we can put together a very responsive Congress.  Thank you also for accepting the challenge for being the next Deputy Speaker for Political Affairs,” Cayetano said in a Facebook post.

“Together we can all work towards a better Philippines and implement the President’s agenda,” he added.

Previously, Paolo said that the Speaker race is far from over, even as his father President Rodrigo Duterte has proposed a term-sharing scheme between Cayetano and another Speaker bet Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco.

READ: Paolo Duterte says speaker race far from over, hints at looming coup 

Under the older Duterte’s plan, Cayetano would have the first 15 months while Velasco would serve the remaining 21 months of the 18th Congress.

READ: Duterte ends speakership squabble 

READ: Duterte pushes for Cayetano-Velasco term-sharing for Speaker 

Earlier, talks that supposedly warring camps of Cayetano and Duterte invited lawmakers to hold separate meetings before the President delivers his State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday, July 22. /jpv

READ: Cayetano, Pulong summon solons before House Speaker poll