(Eagle News) – Marinduque Representative Lord Alan Velasco has been chosen by the Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban (PDP-Laban as its nominee for House Speaker in the 18th Congress, according to Senator Manny Pacquiao.
Pacquiao, in a video conference from Los Angeles, said he was given the authority to make the announcement by PDP Laban President Aquilino Pimentel III
He said that the administration party, PDP Laban, wants the next speaker to be a member of the party.
The other House Speaker aspirants are Pampanga Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales, Davao del Norte Rep. and former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Leyte Representative-elect Martin Romualdez, Taguig City Representative-elect Alan Peter Cayetano.
Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte was asked to endorse the PDP Laban candidate for House Speakership, but he later decided to leave it at the hands of the party members.
Velasco was chosen based on the manifesto of support signed by majority of PDP Laban members of the House of Representatives.
PDP Laban is the party with the highest number of members in the Lower House at 84.
Pacquiao also clarified that there would be no term sharing agreement if Velasco will be chosen as the next House Speaker, as he will serve the full three years of the term.
(with a report from Meanne Corvera, Eagle News Service)
