Speaker Velasco guns for reelection
MANILA, Philippines — House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco is seeking reelection for a third term as Marinduque’s congressional representative.
Velasco filed his certificate of candidacy for Marinduque representative before the Commission on Elections in the town of Boac on Tuesday.
“I’m really grateful to the people of Marinduque for giving me many chances and I’m asking them for another one so I can continue to champion their interests and welfare in Congress,” he said.
Velasco, a close ally of President Rodrigo Duterte, has shepherded the passage of key administration measures, including proposals in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, he has also kept his hands off the hot-button issue of the renewal of ABS-CBN’s broadcast franchise, which he is leaving for the next Congress to decide on.
Velasco ascended to the speakership in a stunning coup that ousted his predecessor Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano (Taguig-Pateros).
The two were supposed to adhere to a term-sharing agreement, where Cayetano sits for the first 15 months of the 18th Congress and Velasco sits for the remaining 21 months.
- Latest
- Trending
