Legarda admits receiving calls from aspiring House Speakers, but...

Outgoing Senator Loren Legarda on Thursday said she has been contacted by contenders for the House Speaker post but none had directly sought her support.

Legarda, during the Kapihan sa Senado, said she received the call even before she was proclaimed as the winning congressional candidate in Antique.

"Even before I was proclaimed, there have been some call  to congratulate me, through personal calls or their emissaries. Maybe not only [soliciting support] but alam mo naman, nagko-congratulate," she said.

"Basta may mag tumawag na nangungumusta, nagko-congratulate," she added, without mentioning names, only describing them as "my friends."

Asked on the claims made by Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, one of the contenders for the speakership, that between P500,000 to P1 million is being dangled to each congressman in exchange for their votes, Legarda said she hopes it is not true.

"I've read about it. I hope that it is untrue because positions in government, even in the legislative department, should not be  for sale. We should give them the benefit of the doubt," she said.

On the possibility that she will be a House Speaker, Legarda said it did not cross her mind.

"I was surprised to see my name but I have not made any effort to aspire for the speakership. I think there are enough candidates already,"she said.

She added that though she can do the job, speakership is "never in my radar." —KBK, GMA News