Suarez says term-sharing in House speakership ‘counterproductive’

The plenary hall of the House of Representatives. (Photo from the Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez said Friday that sharing terms between candidates for House speakership will be counterproductive.

“If the President will give his order and sabihin, tatlo kayo, term share kayo, that won’t be good for the House. Kailangan ‘yung trabaho, walang stalling,” he said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel.

Suarez said if candidates for House Speaker will share terms, there would be a need to change committee chairs every time a new Speaker assumes the post.

“It will be counterproductive,” the Quezon 3rd District representative said.

As the race for the next leader of the House of Representatives heats up, Suarez speculated that the idea on term-sharing might have been floated by Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, and incoming Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano, who are vying for the leadership in the lower Chamber.

“That may be brought upon by the two, siguro there is an occasion na nandon si Lord Velasco, nandon si Allan Peter, nandon si Presidente. I am just speculating na baka sinabi, ‘Bakit hindi na lang kayo magterm-share? ‘Hindi naman nila tinanong ‘yung posisyon ni Martin because he was not there,” he said.

Suarez was referring to incoming Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, the candidate he supports to be the next Speaker.

He said he had not yet discussed with Romualdez, whom he claimed has “enough” support from other congressmen, the possibility of term-sharing with Velasco or Cayetano.

READ: Romualdez Speakership bid gets support from 126 House members