Alvarez: PDP-Laban should've waited for Duterte's pick before announcing Velasco as party bet

Davao Del Norte Representative Pantaleon Alvarez has expressed disfavor over the decision of his party, PDP-Laban, to choose Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco as its nominee to the House speakership race.

In a 24 Oras report on Wednesday, Alvarez, who is also gunning for the position, said the party should have waited for President Rodrigo Duterte to make his choice before announcing that Velasco was its candidate.

The former Speaker, who also serves as Secretary General of PDP-Laban, likewise said he was not consulted on the decision of the party.

"Para sa akin mas maganda na hintayin natin ang Pangulo, kasi sa totoo lang magiging divisive," Alvarez said.

"Ayaw natin mangyari yun. Gusto natin magkaisa yung mga supporter ng ating Pangulo," he added.

Apart from Velasco and Alvarez, Pampanga Representative Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales had also expressed interest in the speakership post. But even him is backing Velasco to the race as he signed a memorandum of support for the Marinduque lawmaker along with leader of three other blocs at the House.

Alvarez had earlier claimed that an amount of P500,000 to P1 million were offered to each congressman to secure aspirants to the speakership of their votes.

He, however, refused to name the speaker aspirants he was referring to. — Erwin Colcol/MDM, GMA News