Koko Pimentel: Cong Pulong Duterte not a PDP-Laban member

Senator Aquilino Pimentel III on Tuesday urged members of the ruling PDP-Laban to support their party mates who are running for Speaker of the House.

In a message to reporters, Pimentel said President Rodrigo Duterte's son Davao Representative Paolo Duterte was not a member of the PDP-Laban.

The President is the chairman of the ruling party while Pimentel is its president.

“Cong Pulong Duterte is not a PDP-Laban member. For as long as there are PDP-Laban members aspiring to be House Speaker and they are well qualified to be one, then PDP- Laban members should and must consider first supporting their partymate,” Pimentel said.

The PDP-Laban has announced that it has picked Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco as its bet for Speaker.

Other PDP-Laban members who eyed the top post in the House of Representatives included former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez of Davao del Norte and Pampanga Representative Aurelio Gonzales.

Earlier in the day, Paolo Duterte said he was considering seeking the top post at the House of Representatives. 

"Moapil na ko pagka-speaker (I will run for Speaker). The house is divided, I might be able to help unite it. Pareho lang kaming binoto ng mga tao ah. Kung term sharing, term sharing na kaming lahat,” Paolo said.

PDP-Laban has picked Velasco as its nominee for Speaker in the 18th Congress. —NB, GMA News