Paolo Duterte backs out of Speakership race, to support Rep. Ungab instead

(File photo) Former Davao City Vice Mayor and now Davao Rep. Paolo Duterte (C). (Photo by NOEL CELIS / AFP)

 

(Eagle News) – Presidential son and Davao City Representative Paolo Duterte said on Saturday, July 6, that he had decided to back out of his initial plan to run for House Speaker and would instead support the speakership bid of fellow Davao lawmaker Rep. Isidro Ungab.

Rep. Duterte said that he had already spoken to his father, President Rodrigo Duterte, Thursday night in Davao City.

“We both agreed that this will not be the right time for me to be Speaker and I can still help his administration from the House in a different capacity,” he said.

“As President of Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod, I will support the bid for speakership of Congressman Isidro Ungab from our sister party, Hugpong ng Pagbabago,” Rep. Duterte said.

He said that the President had already been “fully informed” of the participation of Rep. Ungap in the race for the next House Speaker.

Ungab is the choice of the influential regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago for the Speakership race. The party is led by presidential daughter, Davao City mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

Earlier, both Representatives Duterte and Ungab led a handful of Mindanao-based lawmakers in forming the “Duterte Coalition” which, they said, was meant to unite the Lower House.

They also told Cabinet members meddling in the House Speakership race to lay off.

“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.