Invite Reps. Cayetano, Velasco and Romualdez to be partners
(Eagle News) – Several Mindanao-based congressmen led by presidential son Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte and Hugpong ng Pagbabago House Speaker nominee Davao Rep. Isidro Ungab formed what they called the “Duterte Coalition” on Friday, July 5.
In a statement, they said their members come from the Hugpong ng Pagbabago and Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod, and that their aim was to unite the House of Representatives which is currently wracked by various maneuverings for the House Speakership.
“As members of the House of Representatives, Hugpong ng Pagbabago and Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod hope to unite the House,” the Duterte Coalition statement said.
“We have created the Duterte Coalition and we wish to invite everyone to join this group of lawmakers who believe in positive change,” it added.
Their statement described the Duterte Coalition as a “strategic partnership of dynamic public servants who are committed to institute governance and development reforms that are necessary for the Philippines to secure its rightful place in the world stage of nations, particularly in the Southeast Asian region.”
“A special call to be a partner is extended to Congressmen Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Alan Peter Cayetano, and Lord Allan Jay Velasco,” their statement read.
The Duterte coalition noted that President Rodrigo Duterte would not interfere in the race for House Speaker as all the nominees or those who signified their intention to run were all his “allies.”
The group raised concerns that despite this pronouncement by the President “certain Presidential Cabinet members have their bet for Speaker.”
“Everyone should note that, Cabinet members serve only on the basis of the trust and confidence of the President and should not participate in the selection of the Speaker,” they said.
“Let us draw the line to define the independence of the Executive and the Legislative branches of the government,” the Duterte Coalition statement read.
The Duterte Coalition lists as members Rep. Paolo Duterte, Rep. Isidro Ungab, Rep. Vincent Garcia, Rep. Corazon Malanyaon, Rep. Manuel Zamora, Rep. Lorna Bautista, Rep. Claudine Bautista, Rep. Sandro Gonzales and Rep. Anton Lopez.
They stressed that only House members “are the only rightful electorate for their leader.”
“We shall not serve one interest, we will work for all Filipinos. And we begin today,” the coalition statement read.
(with a report from Meanne Corvera, Eagle News Service)
