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Hugpong endorses Ungab
over Velasco for Speaker
By DJ Yap
@deeiayapINQ
From out of the blue, a new dark
horse has entered the fleld of
aspirants in the increasingly un-
predictable speakership race.
In a surprising development
on Wednesday, the regional
Hugpong ng Pagbabago party of
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte,
the President's daughter, en-
dorsed Davao City Rep. Isidro
Ungab as the next Speater, a day
after the President's son, Davao
City Rep. Paolo Duterte, said he
was interested in the post.
Hugpong also asked the
three main contenders for the
speakership to settle for other
leadership positions in the
House majority.
"We suggest that lTaguig
Rep.l Alan Peter Cayetano take
the majority leader position,
[Marinduque Rep.] Lord Allan
Velasco to take the appropria-
tions committee and lleyte
Rep.l Martin Romualdez to maker to hold the
head the accounts committee,"
Hugpong said in a statement.
Hugpong's announcement
came as a shock to House ob-
servers considering widespread
speculation that the President's
daughter had been priv:itely
lobbying for Velasco, a close
lliend of the Duterte family.
lsidro Ungab
A r&urning House member
who headed the powerful ap-
propriations panel during the
previous Aquino administra:
tion, Ungab had not been men-
tioned as a candidate for
Speaker until Wednesday.
Misgivings on Paolo's bid
Ungab is "a four-tbrm con-
gressman and the only law-
chairman-
ships of both ways and means
and appropriations commit-
tees," Hugpong said.
The party acknowledged
the misgivings expressed by
certain quarters, including the
President himself, about the
propriety of Paolo Duterte as-
suming the. Spealer's, post
\ FAqe - Ar,s'/
while his father was President. does not lie: Widening cmcks are
Paolo announced on Tues- now very apparent... " he said.
day that he might also vie for But Caloocan Rep. Edgar
the speakership, saying: "The ' Erice said it might be best to let
House is divided, I might be all the contenders "slug it out
able to help unite it." and may the best man win."
"We understand if Presi- The next Speaker will be
dent Duterte, because of deli elected when the 18th Congress
cadeza, wlll not accept the in- opens onJuly 22.
tent of our brother from Hug-
pong sa Tawong Lungsod, Con- Waiting for President's word
gressman Paolo Duterte, to fe- Romualdez said he respect-
solve th€ qonflict among candi- ed Hugpong's endorsement of
dates," Hugpong said. Ungab, but he would still wait
"Therefore, we are endorsing for the President's word.
the bid of Congressman Isidro "\,Ve respect [Hugpong]'s en-
Ungab for Speaker," it said. dorsement of its speakership
The Presidenthas refused to candidate. However, we will
endorse any candidate, though await the President's final say on
he earlier said he had been the matter," Romualdez, the
prodding Cayetano and Velasco leader of Lakas-Christian Muslim
to agree to a term-sharing Democrats, said in a statemenl
agreement. Velasco reportedly "coing back to the Presi-
backedout at the last minute. dent's last statement on June 2Z
Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos he maintlained his neutrality in
Zarate, who earlier announced the spealership race," he said.
he would also run for Speaker Ungab said on Wednesday he
as leader of the opposition would abide by Hugpohg's deci-
Makabayan bloc, said Hug- sion to field him as its candidate.
pong's use of its growing influ- "I am deeply honored [by]
ence to pick a candidate for the endorsement as House
Speaker was ablow to more es- Speaker. I am a good soldier.
tablished political parties. under the command of every
Zarate also said Hugpong's Filipino. I am ready, willing and
endorsement of Ungab showed capable to serve in any capaci-
that the House ruling. coalitioil ty," he said in a statement.
was headed for abreakup. MEIVIN GAS.
REPORTS FROM
-WTH
"The Duterte coalition mirror CoNANDJEoFFRFYMAITEM INQ