PDP-Laban open to term-sharing offer for Speakership

MANILA — Senator Aquilino Pimentel III on Wednesday said the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) is open to the term-sharing of the speakership post at the House of Representatives for the 18th Congress.

Pimentel, president of the ruling party, noted that the term-sharing arrangement would only be amenable if Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco would hold the position first.

The PDP-Laban has officially endorsed Velasco for the top House post in the 18th Congress.

“To help settle the issue of House Speaker which has been dragging for a considerable period of time, the PDP-Laban which is the majority party is open to the idea of term-sharing, provided its nominee Cong. Lord Allan Velasco goes first since he already has an overwhelming number of members of Congress supporting him,” Pimentel said.

Earlier, the Hugpong ng Pagbabago endorsed the speakership bid of Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab amid a tight race in the House leadership post.

The post is being hotly contested by Velasco, Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez and Taguig City Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano.

Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte announced Tuesday that he “might vie” for the position if only “to unite a divided House.”

This despite earlier statements from President Rodrigo Duterte that he would resign if his son seeks the speakership.