(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte already has a preferred Speaker of the next House of Representatives.
A Radyo Agila source said the President made the decision in a meeting with neophyte congressmen in the Palace on Tuesday, June 18.
The source, however, refused to divulge the name of Duterte’s choice, saying it would be relayed to Senator Manny Pacquiao, who was chosen by the PDP-Laban party, of which the President is chair, to make the announcement.
Last week, Pacquiao, who is currently in the United States and is expected to return in time for Duterte’s State of the Nation Address in July, met with PDP-Laban congressmen who were vying for the speakership.
Tuesday’s meeting was attended by 150 congressmen, including the President’s son, Paolo Duterte, who is an incoming Davao representative.
Also in attendance were Duterte’s former aide and now Senator-elect Bong Go, Bagong Henerasyon partylist Rep. Bernadette Herrera Dy, ACT CIS partylist Rep. Jocelyn Tulfo and Bem Noel of An Waray.
Marinduque Rep. Lord Alan Velasco, Taguig Rep.-elect Alan Peter Cayetano, Pampanga Rep. Dong Gonzales and Davao Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez are vying for the speakership.
