Velasco on speakership: Being close to Dutertes an advantage
BEING close to President Rodrigo Duterte can be an advantage, especially in addressing problems at the House of Representatives, according to a lawmaker who is eyeing the Speakership in the 18th Congress.
Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, in an interview on ANC that was aired on Tuesday, described himself as a “loyal friend to the President and [Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio].”
Velasco refuted allegations that this closenesss may affect the independence of the House but he said “at the end of the day I am saying it is an advantage for me to be close with the President because at least I can talk to him when it comes to the problems of the House.”
He also denied claims by Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez that fellow aspirants were giving away from P500,000 to P1 million for each vote to be the next Speaker.
“I’m not giving away a million pesos…congressmen should respect fellow congressmen. They won’t go through that dealing just to be able to get the votes. Each congressman has his or her own views so I don’t think each congressman can be bought that easily,” Velasco said.
Velasco is considered as Duterte-Carpio’s bet for the speakership against other contenders, notably Alvarez, former Foreign Affairs secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora, Cavite Reps. Alex Advincula and Abraham Tolentino, Malabon Rep. Ricky Sandoval, Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez, and Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales.
On Monday, Minority Leader Danilo Suarez claimed that an endorsement from Duterte-Carpio would likely seal the deal for legislators wanting to get the top House post given talks that she could succeed her father in the 2022 presidential elections.
READ: https://www.manilatimes.net/sara-key-to-speakership/560896/
The presidential daughter maintained, however, that she only has a “personal bet but does not intend to influence Congress.”
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