ililJiitess rnsight
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
This. ea dy, Cayetano being
pushed as next Flouse ,p.uf.,
8Y WENDELL VIGIUA
THE second mosr influential oarn-
io the House of
Representa'tir-e.
is backing former Foieign Affairs
secretary Alan Petet Cateteno in
the race for the Speaker's post in
rhe next Congress.
The Narionel Uoiry pary- (\Lp),
the politic:J parq, of businessman
Enrique Razon, said it prefers Car-
elano. aiso a fot-ea
congtesaman
anrJsenlror, becausc of llrs ..broad
experience and proven ttack tecord
ln government setvice.
The r;:ce r: sheping up ro be z
_ will supportrvhoever the presi,l.ni
tbree-\'a\ fighr among Car-ecano,
tormer Leyte Rep. Ferdinand
Martn Romuaidez antJ Rep. Lord
THIS
Castto to represent dle party irr
the speakership race, Cong Castro
has not expressed to the party any
ioterest in running for Speaker,"
Puno said.
If Hugpong chooses not to
endorse any congressman for
Speakel Puno said the NUP will
still not 6eld its own candidate for
speaker
"We would rather support the
candidate who supports President
Duterte, has the broadestgovern-
ment experience, and who carr
eloquendy represent the Congress
and the country in interactions
with foreign countelparts. Foi
AIIan Jay Velasco lpDp Laban.
Marinduquc;.
"Cayetano is the caodidate who
is respected by all members of
Congress and whose loyalB.to
President Durerte and his oro_
grams is already proven,.,'said
tormer interior secretan Ronaldo
Puno, NUP chair.
The NUP, which has more ot
less 30 members in the current
i?th Congress, is the seconJ
lars-
est party m rhe House. qext to rh"e
ruling PDP-Laban.
Puno, howevet, sard the partv
and hJs daughterDavao CitvMavor
Sara Durerte rvill ba.k u, .p."k..
Puno said che NUp is in a coali_
these rcasons, the NUP leadet-
ship is incLined towards former
congressman, fotmer senator, and
former Foreign Affairs secreury
AIan Peter Cayetano, who we
believe is someone all Congress-
men can look up to, and Iike
Speaket (Gloria) Arroyo, was witl
President Duterte ftom the start
and has a proven ftack record,"
he said.
Puno said the NUP will still
consulations with Hug-
avzait the
pong 'iwhich we hope will tran
spire after the elections."
"The NUP will heed (the) ad-
vise from the HNP on who they
believe can best serve the Dutette
Administration as Speaket of
\\
TtzoiT pAG€'t
tron agteement with Mavot Sata,s
Hugpong Ng Pagbabago (HNp)
party and "we are committed to
suppot the candidate for Soeaker
of the HNP if they choose to
endorse one."
He said the report that the NUp
wili lleld its osrl candidate tlrroLrsh
majorJn leader Fredeni_l Casrro l\s
a hallucination."
"Contrary to recent news re_
ports, the National Unity partv
will nor be fielding its own can
didare for Speakership of rhe
House in rhe l8th Congtess. No
one from the NUP has asked ma_
jotity leader Capiz Rep. Fredenil
See THIS ) Page 83
The House
he said.
of Representatives,"
In a statement, Romualdez, a
stalwart of Lakas-CMD, admitted
that he is gunning for the speaker's
post in the 18th Congress,
"I confirm the statement of
Mayor Sara that I am interested
in the speakership race of the
l8th Congress. Many congress-
men aspire for that position. I am
humbled and honored that she
mendoned my name as one of the
cootenders. As a Malacaiang ally,
it is my duty to push the Iegislative
agenda of the President. fught
now, I am working very hard to
ensute my victory in the coming
election," he said.