Palace to Speaker aspirants: May the best and most competent win

Malacañang on Wednesday wished Speaker aspirants the best, noting that President Rodrigo Duterte "is comfortable" with any of them as they are all his allies.

"PRRD (Duterte’s initials) is comfortable with any of the candidates securing the seat of the Speaker of the House of Representatives because they are all his political allies," presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

Panelo issued the statement on the day the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), which Duterte chairs, named Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco as its candidate for Speaker.

Panelo reiterated the position of Duterte not to make any endorsement and leave the decision to the members of the House of Representatives.

He said Duterte would rather focus on the business of governance rather than play politics and ruffle the feelings of those outside of his preferred choice.

"The latter is simply not the character and style of the Chief Executive," Panelo said.

Panelo said Duterte is confident that the next House Speaker would shepherd his legislative agenda for the nation's best interest and the people's general welfare.

"The Palace is therefore optimistic that the members of Congress know and will vote for the candidate whom they think and believe can give them excellent stewardship in legislating policies and measures that will deliver positive and genuine change for our people," he said.

Aside from Velasco, Pampanga Representative Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales, Davao Del Norte Representative and former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez were the other members of the party who have expressed interest to seek the top House seat.

Velasco is expected to go head to head against other Speaker aspirants Leyte Representative-elect Martin Romualdez of Lakas and Taguig City Representative-elect Alan Peter Cayetano. —KBK, GMA News