Alan Cayetano, Martin Romualdez eyeing speakership of 18th Congress

MANILA, Philippines — Former foreign affairs secretary Alan Peter Cayetano is counting on President Duterte’s word that he would become the next speaker of the House of Representatives should he win in the midterm elections.

Cayetano, a member of the Nacionalista Party of former Senate president Manny Villar, is running for representative of Taguig City’s first district.

During the Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) campaign rally in Pateros on Thursday, Cayetano said he and the President had discussed plans for the speakership in the 18th Congress.

Cayetano has been vocal about Duterte’s instructions for him to head the lower chamber. 

“I’m not concerned about any endorsements for the speakership because I’m sure of what we agreed upon with the leader of the country, his instructions are clear that I first help our candidates win,” he told reporters in English and Filipino.

Cayetano also thanked Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio for asking the ruling party PDP-Laban to include him in the shortlist of possible candidates for speaker in the next Congress.

“I want to thank the President and Mayor Sara,” he said, adding, They know I won’t resign from the DFA if there wasn’t something special the President wants me to do. I’m focused on what he needs.”

Former Leyte congressman Martin Romualdez is also eyeing the speakership post.

Romualdez confirmed yesterday Duterte-Carpio’s statement that he is interested to become the next speaker. He is running for his old congressional seat in the first district of Leyte.

The leadership of the National Unity Party (NUP) said it would support any member of the House whom Duterte will endorse as the next speaker when Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s term ends on June 30. 

“The NUP is in a coalition agreement with the HNP. We are committed to support the candidate for speaker of the HNP if they choose to endorse one,” NUP president and former interior secretary Ronaldo Puno said.  

Puno hinted that the NUP is inclined to support Cayetano.

“We believe Cayetano is someone all congressmen can look up to, and like Speaker Gloria Arroyo, he was with President Duterte from the start and has a proven track record,” Puno said. 

“We believe the next speaker must be someone who has the competence and proven ability to carry out the programs and policies of the Duterte administration,” he added.

He refuted reports that the 40-member party would be fielding House Majority Leader Fredenil Castro as the NUP’s contender for speaker.

“No one from the NUP has asked Capiz Rep. Castro to represent the party in the speakership race. He has not expressed to the party any interest in running for speaker,” Puno said in a statement. 

“The idea that NUP will have its own candidate is a hallucination,” he clarified.