Duterte to Alvarez: GMA not keen to be Speaker

DAVAO CITY  , Philippines  — President Duterte has in a way assured House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez that former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is not interested in the position of speaker of the House of Representatives.

“Mr. Speaker, my friend here president Arroyo has a message for you – that she is not interested to become speaker,” the President said in his speech during a dinner-concert at the Harbor Garden Tent of the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel the other night.

There had been reports that Arroyo would replace Alvarez as House speaker.

Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone said it was probably Duterte’s way of assuring Alvarez of his continued trust and confidence.

Meanwhile, Duterte also tried to patch things up, even for just a moment, between Alvarez  and his daughter Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

The President was on the way up to the stage when he approached his daughter and brought her to where Alvarez was seated at the presidential table.  

“Mr. Speaker, this is my daughter Sara,” the President told Alvarez.

“Good evening, ma’am,” Alvarez replied, shaking Sara’s hand, and then turned to President Duterte to say: “Good evening, mayor.” 

The brief exchange was seen by the almost 1,000 people who attended the party as it was flashed on the LCD screen. The people cheered.

After that short encounter between the Speaker and Sara, the President no longer mentioned the two in his speech. 

The event was also for the birthday of  Arroyo, who was seated beside Sara.   

The guests, mostly members of Congress, were reportedly anticipating if Alvarez and his estranged friend, Davao del Norte Rep. Antonion Floirendo Jr., who was also present, would reconcile. 

But the two did not get a chance to even be near each other.

Aside from the President, Sara and Arroyo, also at the same table were Duterte’s partner Honeylet Avanceña, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and his wife Betty. 

The dinner-concert was also attended by business tycoons Ramon Ang and Manuel Pangilinan.

Duterte belted out a few songs, including his favorite, “Ikaw.”  Singers Martin Nievera, Zsa-Zsa Padilla and Lani Misalucha wowed those in attendance. 

The President flew back home to Davao after the party. – With Jess Diaz