Tuesday, 16 July 2019

MHAJT FEAR' WfI']OUT AVffi Daily Tribune

Push and pull

Political analysts have different takes him!i[ as the leading bidder for the post. His Congress peers
(( on the various positions taken by presideni do not seem to buy this, though. IIe's got the weakeii numbers
In on Rodrigo Duterte on the manv issues the among the candidates, we were told.
exclusioe presidency has to tackle. The President, howeyer, did not choose one from among them,
pre-SoNA From his foreigl policy t0 trade, his war lhough.
ilteruieu. with on illegal drugs to his colorful language, the In an exclusive pre-SoNA interview vrith Dailu fri.bune,
Deilg Tribune, sea row which he is likely to expound more President Duterte made clear that he has not openly favored a
Prcsident on in his State of the Nation Address (SoNA) speakership candidate from among the three.
Dutefie mede on Monday, these kndwledgeable sideliners are Ard to make it clearer, the Chief Executiye said he will not
c,ear th6t he having a freld day annryzing the President's take offense if the congressmen will not favOr the proposed
has not openlA words but with different results. compromise of term-sharing, which should have Cayetano taking
farored a The hottest and latest among the more the House leadership for the lirst 15 months 0f the last three
speakerBhil, interesting topics political watchers are trying years.of Mr. Duterte's term, while Velasco takes his turn in the
cand,idate lron to dissect from Mr. Duterte's statements is his last 21. Bomualdez should sit as Mqiority Floor Leader for three
among the preferred legislative partner in the House of years if the formula is accepted.
three. Representatives. But it does not seem so,
With just a week left, our lanmakers from The House speakership remains an open race. The president
, the House have yet to choose the next Speaker,
Over at the Senate, it seems a cinch for Vicente "Tito" S;ito to
said so when he told the Tribune that *it,s okay with me. Thai is
just my formula,' adding. that he only set ed the issue since he
continue as Senate President. His concern was limited to choosiig felt the need to 'talk' when the conflict had started.
the rightfui leaders ofthe ket committees. Sotto no Ionger needei The President talked more, however.
to camp&ign to keep his post. * Ile said he will choose Romualdez as his vice-presidential
Vfrr drgoiru Ibrrse Spe3tar
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
vacating her Eouse seai, she
is also leaving the post open
to the three hopefuls who
have taken different routes
in their bids to claim the
speakership.
M a c ap ag al-Arr oyo 's
choice, of cour$e, should;
be Leyte ftep, M a1.tin,:
Romualdez-They're both.:.
the Lakas pgrty bosses.
But GMA is no longer the
sitting President, She also
does not have the same
popularity of Mr. Duterte,
rehose policies are widely
suppoded by the people.
Then there is Marinduque
Rep. Lord Allan Velasco.
He has the support of
the Duterte siblings Ssra
(the Davao City Mayor)
and Paolo (Davao City lst
District Representative).
The Dutertes'backing
makes him a strong
candidate for ihe post. But
he has been silent all along.
But they say a silent water
runs deep, so...
The third candidate is
Taguig Bep. Alan Peter
Cayetano, the former
Senator and Foreign Affairs
Secretary who is the most '
visible of the lot.
He has to keep himself
everywhere. He has, in fact,
too much on his plate that
is his way of projecting
$ Racra
19
ne

Push and pull

himielf as the leading -bidder for the post. His Congress peers candidate should he run for it in 2022. But who will be his anointed
do not seem to buy this, though. He's got the weakest numbers one for the presidency?
among the candidates, we were told. It could no longer be Bongbong Marcos.
The President, however, did not choose one from among them, (( A Marcos-Romualdez pairing won,t work for
though. sure. It's soooo 1970s.
Oaet at
In an exclusive pre-SoNA interview with Dai,ly Tri,bune, the Senate, it Would it be Cayetano, as he has already
President Duterte made clear lhat he has not openly favored a declared his intention t0 seek the'country's
seem,s a, cinch
speakership candidate from among the three. top post among members of his circle? Maybe
And to make it clearer, the Chief Executive said he will not Jor Vicente
*Tito' Sotto not.
take offense if the congressmen will not favor lhe proposed The President has just disenfranchised
to continue
compromise of term-sharing, which should haye Cayetano taking Cayetano's Phisgoc and rightfully shifted
aa Senate
the House leadership for the first 1.5 months of the last three the management of the country's hosting
Presid,ent.
years of Mr. Duterte's term, while Velasco takes his turn in the of the 30th Southeast Asian Games to start
IIis concem
last 21. Bomualdez should sit as M{ority Floor Leader for three on 30 November to government's Philippine
years if the formula is accepted.
was limited
to choosing Sports Commissi0n, in partnership with the
Bul it does nol, seem so. Philippine Olympic Committee.
the rightful
The House speakership remains an open race. The president If that is not an outright
leaders oJ the rebuke of
said so when he told the Tdbune that,it's okay with me. That is Cayetano, not including what now appears
just my formula,' adding that he only settled the issue since he *ey cdmmittees.
Sotto no longer as the President's non-committal stand on
felt the need to 'talkn when the conflict had started. the speakership, w€ c0uld n0 longer be sure
need,ed, to
The President Ialked more, honever. what is.
campfuign to
He said he will choose Romualdez as his vice-presidential Thbn, on Saturday, he spent time to dine
heep hls post.
with Velasco and his family
at the Shangrila EDSA.
Photographs of that eyent
circulated on social media
with Velasco, as his usual,
not saying an)'thing about it.
Several minutes after
that dinner, Velasco
met with Cayetano and
Romualdez in a venue
at the Bonifacio Global
City. Again, no word from
Velasco nor from the two,
But then, sid eli ners
are saying none of them
would be able to take the
speakership.
Remember that a so{alled
Duterte Coalition had risen
to break this speakership
impasse. It is led by Sara's
Hugpong ng Pagbabago.
The Dutertb Coalition
has endorsed Davao City
3rd District Rep. Isidro
Ungab for the post.
Ungab could not be a
mere decoy in this game. He
could, in fact, become an
acceptable bet to Romualdez,
Cayetano and Velasco. It
would less painful for them
if he becomes Speaker of
the Ilouse.
But we will leave these to
the better political analyses
of the few capable minds.
The next days are going to
be interesting for sure and
they will also haye a lot to
Y say qbout these.