Paolo Duterte, several lawmakers create new coalition in lower chamber

In a statement, the members of the Duterte Coalition said they formed the group hoping to “unite” the lower chamber. (File Photo: House of Representatives of the Philippines/Facebook)

Amid the row on the House leadership, Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte, along with other lawmakers from Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) and Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod, formed a nine-member group called “Duterte Coalition” in the House of Representatives on Friday, July 5.

In a statement, the members of the Duterte Coalition said they formed the group hoping to “unite” the lower house.

“We have created the Duterte Coalition and we wish to invite everyone to join this group of lawmakers who believe in positive change,” it said.

Aside from Duterte, its other members are Davao Occidental Representative Lorna Bautista, Dumper Philippines Taxi Drivers Association Party-list Representative Claudine Bautista, Davao City 2nd District Representive Vincent Garcia, Marino Representatives Sandro Gonzales and Anton Lopez, Davao Oriental 1st District Representative Corazon Malanyaon, Davao City 3rd District Representative Isidro Ungab, and Compostela Valley 1st District Representative Manuel Zamora.

President Rodrigo Duterte’s eldest son on Tuesday changed his mind from previously saying he has no interest in the House speakership to now considering vying for the top post, after talks of term sharing being pushed by Taguig Representative Alan Peter Cayetano who is also gunning for the speakership. Following his announcement, the HNP, led by his sister Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, said it is endorsing Ungab for House Speaker.

[READ: Sara-led HNP endorses Isidro Ungab for House Speaker]

The Duterte Coalition told “certain Presidential Cabinet members,” whom it did not name, to not meddle in the House speakership race, noting that even the Chief Executive did not want to involve himself on the matter.

“Congressmen and Congresswomen are elected and serve a mandate with an authority direct from the people. These lawmakers are the only rightful electorate for their leader,” it said.

“Let us draw the line to define the independence of the Executive and the Legislative branches of the government,” it added.

Apart from hoping to unite the lower chamber, it also said it is “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.”

It also offered partnership to Cayetano and two House Speaker aspirants Leyte Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco who was endorsed by the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).

[READ: Marinduque Rep. Velasco chosen as PDP-Laban’s bet for House Speaker]

Velasco, for his part, supported the Duterte Coalition’s bid to unify the House.

“I am one with the call and aspirations of the newly-formed coalition and implore my fellow lawmakers in Congress to set aside their personal ambitions and agenda and join the Duterte Coalition so together we can build a House of Representatives that is united and stronger, a House that truly represents the people,” he said.

Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, PDP-Laban president, also welcomed the formation of the group.

He said their party “has been backing and will continue to back the bids for House Speaker of its very qualified nominee(s).”

“For as long as we have a party member as a serious contender for House Speaker, we will continue to call for party discipline and unity in supporting our party nominee,” he added.

On July 22, members of the House will be voting on who will replace House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the 18th Congress.