Duterte keeps hands off Speaker term-sharing deal

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has kept his distance from the term-sharing arrangement between Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco.

Duterte said he would not “influence or meddle” in the term-sharing deal amid speculation that it could be ignored.

The President issued the remark on Monday night at the joint birthday celebration of Velasco and his wife, Rowena, in San Juan City, according to a Palace press release.

READ: Velasco ready to be next Speaker, cites term-sharing deal

Duterte brokered the term-sharing deal with Cayetano sitting for 15 months as Speaker before Velasco’s 21-month stint.

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

Cayetano’s allies in the Nacionalista Party and the National Unity Party earlier floated the idea of doing away with the term-sharing deal because of the Speaker’s high trust and approval ratings.

According to the Malacañang press release, Duterte also talked about the coming presidential election where he reiterated that he does not want her daughter, Davao City mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to vie for the country’s top post.

“At the same time, the President assured his political allies during the occasion that he would throw his support to any politician who plans to run for the presidency in 2022,” the Palace said.

“Considering the rigors of being the country’s chief executive, the President said he does not want his daughter, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, to vie for the top post.”

Edited by JE