Velasco: Being close to Duterte an advantage to be next Speaker

Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines — Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, a contender to the House speakership, said on Tuesday that his loyalty to the President and his daughter, is what makes him different from his competitor, incoming Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez.

“The difference between me and Martin (Romualdez), I’m a loyal friend to the President and (Davao City) Mayor Inday (Sara Duterte-Carpio),” Velasco said in an interview over ABS CBN News Channel.

Being close to the President Rodrigo Duterte is an “advantage,” Velasco said, even though the House needs to be an independent institution.

“People say it might be a disadvantage if I become speaker because I’m very close to the President,” he said.

“I’m saying it’s actually an advantage for me to be close to the President because at least I can talk directly to the President when it comes to the problems of the House,” Velasco added.

Duterte-Carpio earlier introduced Velasco in a campaign rally as the next Speaker of the House.

Meanwhile, Romualdez’s  speakership bid has already secured the support of some 126 House members, House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez earlier revealed.

READ: Romualdez Speakership bid gets support from 126 House members

Aside from Velasco and Romualdez, other contenders for the Speakership is former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and former Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano. (Editor: Jonathan P. Vicente)

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