Speaker Velasco: No plan to run for national position

Speaker Lord Allan Velasco. INQUIRER file photo / Niño Jesus Orbeta

MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Lord Allan Velasco said  Tuesday that he has no plans of running for a national post come 2022 elections.

This is the reason why he said he wants to “work quietly” and “remain in the background” since he has no national ambitions and is only serving the country “for the sake of the President.”

“Ako naman kasi [For me] I don’t have any national ambitions. That’s the reason why I always remain in the background,” he said in an interview over Daily Tribune, where he was asked about his difference with past Speakers of the House.

“I think that’s one of the major differences sa inyong lingkod at sa [between yours truly and] other Speakers. I’m not so sure if they had national ambitions also but ako talaga [for me really], I’m just doing this for the sake of the country, for the sake of the President,” he added.

Velasco said he just wants to keep delivering what President Rodrigo Duterte wants.

“If you expect me to be out and always seen on TV, mas gusto ko na nasa background na lang kasi medyo shy tayo [I prefer to remain in the background because we are a bit shy],” he said.

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