Paolo, Sara Duterte to respect President’s decision on House leadership

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte’s children will respect his decision on the House leadership, Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte said Monday.

“To respect the decision of the President,” Paolo said when asked what his sister and Davao Mayor Sara Duterte told him.

Asked if there will be a coup against presumptive Speaker Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano in the coming days, Paolo did not answer directly and said: “Saan si congressman (Martin) Romualdez? Siya makasagot nyan.”

In a short speech during Cayetano’s breakfast, Paolo also said the “Davao Coalition” in the House would respect the President’s stand on the speakership.

“The Davao Coalition, we respect the decision of the President tutal magte-term sharing, ‘yun ‘yung napag-usapan nila. Pero sabi ko nga ‘yung term sharing nila is an agreement between them and the President,” he said.

Sources said Duterte had threatened not to attend his fourth State of the Nation Address on Monday afternoon if another coup delays his scheduled speech.

The President has endorsed the term-sharing of Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, but the President’s son, earlier hinted at a looming coup fuelling speculations that his group, “Duterte Coalition” would insist on installing as Speaker Davao City 3rd District Rep. Isidro Ungab.

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

But the 1987 Constitution mandates that the Speaker shall be elected by a majority vote of all House members through a roll call vote.

Cayetano still ‘on guard’

Despite the support of his former rivals in the Speaker race, Cayetano said he remains “on guard” for any possibilities during the election at their first session.

“It’s always good to be on guard, it’s a democracy. Meaning, anyone can suddenly say tatakbo ako, there are many many very popular congressmen and congresswomen, anyone of them can suddenly run, but as I said we’re trying to reach out,” the former senator said. 

“What I’m saying is you asked me the possibilities, anything is possible but I think the probability is wala namang mag-o-object dahil nga may consensus na… As long as orderly ‘yung proceedings, anyone can say what they really want to say or nominate whoever they wanna nominate,” he added. /je