VICE PRESIDENT Sara Duterte suggested to her brother, 1st District Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte, to consider leading the House minority group should his bid for speakership fail.
This comes amid swirling speculation about the upcoming leadership race in the House of Representatives and Senate.
In a brief exchange with reporters Saturday, the vice president said, “Wala akong candidate for speaker or Senate president. Wala ding lumapit sa akin for speaker or Senate president (I don’t have a candidate for speaker or Senate President. No one has approached me for speaker or Senate president either).”
However, she admitted to raising the topic with her brother. “Sinabihan ko si Congressman Pulong, sabi ko sa kanya baka gusto mo sumama ng speaker. Hindi man sya sumagot. Iniisip din niya siguro yung chances niya na manalo (I told Congressman Pulong, I said maybe he wants to run for speaker, he didn’t answer. He’s probably also thinking about his chances of winning).”
When pressed on whether she explicitly endorsed her brother for the speakership, the vice president responded.
“Well, sinabi ko sa kanya kung hindi ka manalo ng speaker di kunin mo yung minority. But wala pa siyang sagot. So, I guess he is still thinking about it siguro. Di ko alam (Well, I told him if you don’t win speaker, then take the minority. But he still hasn’t answered. So I guess he is still thinking about it maybe. I don’t know).”
She also revealed her brother’s remark to her when she raised the topic, “Ang sinabi lang niya sa akin kanina huwag Kang makipag away Kasi kagagaling mo lang sa Misa (What he just told me earlier was, don’t quarrel because you just came from Mass.)
