Sara Duterte’s support a ‘tipping point’ in speakership row — Velasco

Speaker Lord Allan Velasco — NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Lord Allan Velasco admitted Monday the support of presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte, and her political party Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP), was the “tipping point” in the speakership squabble in the House of Representatives.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News, Velasco expressed belief that Mayor Duterte has “a lot of influence” not just in the House but also “in a lot of areas.”

“Definitely, I believe that Mayor Inday Sara really has a lot of influence not only in Congress but in a lot of areas also. With the party of HNP joining or endorsing my speakership, definitely I believe it was a tipping point,” Velasco said.

As tensions rose amid the speakership squabble between Velasco and former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, the former met with  Mayor Duterte to seek the support of HNP—and essentially the backing of the presidential daughter who serves as the chairperson of the political party.

On the day of Cayetano’s ouster, the presidential daughter affirmed HNP’s support for Velasco and the term-sharing agreement.

There were even speculations that Mayor Duterte made moves to ensure that the term-sharing deal was to be followed. But Velasco has previously denied this, saying the extent of the presidential daughter’s help to him in his speakership bid was only limited to their meeting.

Ties to the First Family

In an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel before the term-sharing deal was announced back in 2019, Velasco did not hide his family’s closeness to President Rodrigo Duterte’s family.

This got to the point where the President celebrated his first Christmas with Velasco’s family.

On October 13, one day after Velasco was elected as the new House Speaker, presidential son and Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte was named the chairperson of the House committee on accounts.

The Davao City lawmaker replaced Cavite Rep. Bambol Tolentino.

But Velasco denied that the Davao City lawmaker was given the post as a form of reward.

“He had been a vice mayor of Davao City and as you know, the closeness that I have with the Duterte family. And again, the chairman of accounts needs the trust and confidence of the Speaker,” Velasco said.

“So definitely I have the trust and confidence in Pulong Duterte,” he added.

EDV