Duterte threatens to resign if son Paolo runs for House Speaker

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday threatened to resign if his son and incoming Davao City Representative Paolo Duterte throws his hat in the race to be the next Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“Itong si Paolo, sabihin ko sa kanya, if you run for speakership, let me know. Kasi kung tatakbo ka, magre-resign ako,” Duterte said in a speech during the oathtaking of newly appointed government officials in Malacañang.

The President said it would not look good if most of his family members are in politics. Duterte’s eldest daughter Sara is currently the mayor of Davao City while his other son Sebastian would occupy the vice mayoral seat.

“If he insists on running, maniwala siya sa mga advisers niya, go ahead. Let me know three days in advance before you make the announcement and I will tender my resignation,” Duterte said.

Responding to his father’s pronouncements, Paolo Duterte said on Facebook that he never said that he wanted to be Speaker and suggested the President may have been fed false information.

READ: Paolo Duterte to dad Digong: I don't want to be Speaker

The younger Duterte’s name has cropped up as one of the possible candidates to replace Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in July.

The other potential contenders are Representatives Lord Allan Velasco of Marinduque, Alan Peter Cayetano of Taguig and Martin Romualdez of Leyte, incoming Antique Representative Loren Legarda, and Davao del Norte Representative Pantaleon Alvarez, whom Arroyo replaced after Duterte’s State of the Nation Address in July last year.

The President said he is not taking sides in the speakership race even though he admitted that Cayetano and Velasco spoke to him about the matter during the campaign period.

Romualdez had sent feelers while Alvarez made references to the speakership after the elections, according to Duterte.

“Sa speakership, wala akong kinakampihan. I am on my last three terms [years]. Gusto ko lang to do good and if that good is not good for everybody, well I’m sorry. ‘Yan lang ang makaya ko,” Duterte said.

Alvarez said that he is willing to withdraw his bid for another term as Speaker should Paolo Duterte decide to seek the country's fourth highest post. — BM, GMA News