GMA analyst Heydarian's take on Duterte's pick for Speaker

Last year's "coup" in the House of Representatives and the delay in the passing of the 2019 budget may have forced President Rodrigo Duterte to openly endorse a candidate for Speaker in the 18th Congress, according to GMA News resident analyst Richard Heydarian on Tuesday.

"Nag-aalala siguro si Presidente na mangyari ulit yung last time, na ang gulo nung speakership," Heydarian said, referring to when Davao del Norte Representative Pantaleon Alvarez was removed as speaker and replaced by Pampanga Representative — an incident that delayed Duterte's third State of the Nation Address for over an hour.

"And let us not forget yung nangyari sa budget. Na-deadlock yung budget. So I think si Pangulong Duterte medyo worried siya. Anong silbi na nanalo yung mga alyado ko sa eleksyon pero ang gulo nung ruling party? Wala rin tayong masusulong sa agenda natin in the coming years," Heydarian added.

Duterte said on Monday that Taguig City Representative Alan Peter Cayetano is his bet to be the Speaker of the House. He will share the term with Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco.

Heydarian, however, said the term-sharing scheme may be "risky."

"Medyo unprecedented ito, especially with the President coming in, at medyo risky ito at may posibilidad na baka magkakaroon ng gridlock o gulo ulit sa House of Representatives dahil dito sa term-sharing," he said. —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News