‘Advantage but not an assurance’, Koko says of Duterte’s Cayetano endorsement

Alan Peter Cayetano

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte’s endorsement of Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano is an advantage, but not an assurance that he will secure the House Speaker post, ruling party PDP-Laban President Senator Koko Pimentel said Thursday.

Pimentel said Cayetano has to still ensure that he has the plurality among the members of the House of Representatives.

“He has to convince his electors. Sa July 22, para hindi siya magulat , he has to make sure na kumbibnsido na lahat o ang majority o ang plurality to vote for him as House Speaker,” Pimentel said.

“Advantage siya ngayon with the statement of the President. Swerte nga niya eh… Advantage but not an assurance. But he has to still work on it. Trabaho pa rin,” the senator added.

Pimentel added that Cayetano should also “negotiate” with other political parties and factions in the House.

“Put in writing everything para klaro,” Pimentel said.

Duterte earlier pushed for a term-sharing for House speakership between Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, who was endorsed by PDP-Laban.

Under the proposed term-sharing, Cayetano will assume the post for the first 15 months while Velasco will serve as the House Speaker for the next 21 months.

Asked if members of PDP-Laban would follow the said proposal, Pimentel said: “Sa ngayon, ang PDP-Laban, we wanted guidance from the President nagsalita ang presidente, chairman pa namin, sumunod kami.”

The next House Speaker will be elected before Duterte delivers his fourth State of the Nation on July 22./ac