The Hugpong ng Pagbabago chaired by presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte yesterday joined the increasing number of political groups and congressmen who have asked Cabinet members to stay off the speakership issue in the House of Representatives.
After declaring that it is fielding Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab, the HNP formed the “Duterte Coalition” that initially included Davao City Rep. Paulo “Pulong” Duterte of Hugpong ng Tawong Lungsod, another possible speakership bet, and nine more congressmen, mostly representing congressional districts in the Davao region.
The new coalition of pro-Malacanang solons declared abhorrence to the term-sharing proposal which is allegedly being pushed by at least eight Cabinet members.
Former House Majority Leader and Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro said the opposition against the Cabinet-sponsored term-sharing scheme has started to snowball. “This scheme will only result to demoralization and insecurity and eventually divide the already united pro-administration coalition. It will contribute to leadership instability,” he said.
Sara said that the HNP will “not gun for term-sharing” for the House leadership. “It is counterproductive, it will slow down the last three years of the administration of President Duterte,” said the city chief executive.
Mayor Duterte also stated: “Let us leave the Speaker issue to the members of the House of Representatives and the political parties and that includes the HNP and HTL.”
Reps. Lord Allan Velasco (PDP-Laban, Marinduque) and Martin Romualdez (Lakas, Leyte), two leading bets for the top House post, backed the new political bloc.
“I welcome the formation of the Duterte Coalition whose intention is to unite the House of Representatives and push a strategic partnership between and among public servants who are deeply committed to institute reforms for better governance and development,” said Velasco who was recently chosen as PDP-Laban nominee for House Speaker.
He added: “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.”
Romualdez, whose name was not included in the term sharing proposal, said the HNP and the HTL headed by Rep.
Duterte will further strengthen the alliance of pro-Duterte lawmakers. “I join hands with the Duterte Coalition in establishing a House of Representatives that truly reflects the will of our people,” stated Romualdez, president of the Lakas-CMD and a loyal supporter of the Duterte administraiton.
“Also, I fully subscribe to the position of the Duterte Coalition that congressmen be given the freedom to elect their own leaders in the House of Representatives based on the dictates of their conscience and in accordance with the wishes of their constituents,” he said.
The Duterte Coalition chided Cabinet officials for interfering in the partisan issues regarding the speakership race. “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,” it said.
“Let us draw the line to define the independence of the Executive and the Legislative branches of the government. As members of the House of Representatives, Hugpong ng Pagbabago and Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod hope to unite the House,” the group said. (Ben Rosario)
