Lolypop to support Duterte bet for speaker

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu Sixth District Representative-elect Emmarie Dolores "Lolypop" Ouano-Dizon said that new representatives like her will have to wait until June 28 who President Rodrigo Duterte will endorse to become House Speaker.

Ouano-Dizon said that presidential son and incoming Davao City First District Representative Paolo Duterte called for a fellowship dinner for the 120 new representatives, including her, last June 20.

She said that Duterte appeared in that meeting but there was no announcement as to who among the three contenders in the House Speakership he would be endorsing.

"Ingon si President Duterte inig June 28 na lang niya i-announce. During that meeting, wala may hint kung kinsa gyud iyang i-endorse. Mao na kami magpa-abot lang sa iyang announcement," said Ouano-Dizon, in an interview after taking her oath of office last Friday.

Among the contenders for the House Speakership are Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco, Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez and incoming Taguig City Representative Alan Peter Cayetano.

Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales and former House Speaker and reelected Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez were also rumored to be seeking the post.

Ouano-Dizon said that she is personally close to both Cayetano and Romualdez.

She said that the Cayetanos are long-time friend of their family while Romualdez's wife, Yedda, is the sister of her brother's wife, Melanie.

"Mga suod gyud sa among pamilya sila Cayetano ug Romualdez. But paabot lang sa gyud ko sa announcement sa president," she said.

Meawnhile, number one Senator Cynthia Villar, who was in Cebu recently, said that it would be better not to seek the top post in the Senate in order to avoid conflicts with her colleagues.

Her husband, former Senator Manuel Villar, used to be a Senate President.

"Ang question lang naman ay yong speakership of the House. Wala naman kaming problema sa Senado. Usually mag-endorse siya doon sa may gusto. Hindi naman ako nag-aapply," said Villar.

Villar said she is happy to chair the senate committees on food, agriculture and environment which has been her legislative agenda and will be among her agenda in the next six years. — GAN (FREEMAN)