Sara: I asked Pulong if he’s interested to seek House Speakership

Metro Manila, Philippines - Vice President Sara Duterte said on Saturday, May 17, she asked her brother, Davao 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte, if he is interested to seek the House speakership in the incoming 20th Congress.

In an interview in Davao City, the vice president said while she has no candidate for Senate President and House Speaker, she approached her brother on possibly seeking the latter post.

“Sinabihan ko si Congressman Pulong. Sabi ko sa kanya baka gusto mo lumaban ng Speaker? Hindi ba siya sumagot. Hindi siya sumagot, iniisip din niya siguro yung chances niya na malayo,” Duterte said.

[Translation: I talked to Congressman Pulong. I asked him if he might want to run for Speaker. He didn’t respond. He didn’t answer. Maybe he was also thinking that his chances were slim.]

On Friday, May 16, House deputy speaker David Jay-Jay Suarez said Leyte representative Martin Romualdez, the president’s cousin, continues to enjoy support from the majority to retain the House speakership.

The Romualdez-led chamber impeached Duterte in February over betrayal of public trust and graft and corruption, among others over her controversial budget spending and threats to the president’s family.

Meanwhile, the vice president said Paolo could opt to seek the House minority leadership if he loses the race for House Speaker.

“But wala pa siyang sagot. (He has no answer yet) So I guess he's still thinking about it,” she said.

Aside from Paolo, his son, Omar, is expected to join him at the 20th Congress, as second district representative of Davao City.