Palace: Duterte won’t play politics in Speakership race

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte would rather focus on governing the country rather than “play politics” in the House Speakership race, Malcañang said Wednesday.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said this a day after Duterte said he would let lawmakers at the lower house choose their own candidate.

“The President yesterday made clear his position that he would leave the choice for Speakership to the capable hands of the members of Congress and will not endorse a particular individual for the position,” Panelo said in a statement.

“May the best and most competent aspirant win,” he added.

Panelo said Duterte, chairman of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), “is comfortable with any of the candidates securing the seat of the Speaker of the House of Representatives because they are all his political allies.”

“In deference to the neutral stand of the President on the choice of the House Speaker, the party authorized Senator Manny Pacquiao to announce the political party’s bet for the position,” he said.

“The Chief Executive would rather focus on the business of governance rather than play politics and ruffle the feelings of those outside of his preferred choice. The latter is simply not the character and style of the Chief Executive,” he said.

“President Duterte is confident that the next Lower House leader would shepherd his legislative agenda for the nation’s best interest and the people’s general welfare,” he added.

“The Palace, according to him, “is therefore optimistic that the members of Congress know and will vote for the candidate whom they think and believe can give them excellent stewardship in legislating policies and measures that will deliver positive and genuine change for our people.” (Editor: Jonathan P. Vicente)

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