Koko defends Duterte's endorsement of Speaker bet

Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III on Tuesday defended President Rodrigo Duterte from criticism after he endorsed a term-sharing scheme to end the speakership issue hounding the House of Representatives.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, Pimentel said Duterte should not be blamed if the congressmen themselves sought his "guidance" regarding who will lead the House in the 18th Congress.

"Kung siya ang pinupuntahan, hindi na kasalanan ni Presidente ito kasi ang mga congressmen mismo [ang nagsabi] na kung pabayaan sila, magiging bloody ang eleksyon o ang floor deliberation sa July 22," he said.

House members are set to elect their new Speaker on July 22 when the 18th Congress opens to coincide with Duterte's fourth State of the Nation Address.

In a speech on Monday, Duterte said Taguig City Representative Alan Peter Cayetano will be Speaker and will share the term with Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco. He also said Leyte Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez will be the next majority leader.

Pimentel, Duterte's party-mate in PDP-Laban, said Duterte could hardly be faulted for speaking about the speakership.

"Congressmen na mismo ang naga-appeal kay Presidente. Mr. President, show us the solution. What is your guidance? Kung nagsalita na siya kahapon eh mabuti po. Hindi na po kasalanan ni Presidente 'yan," he said.

Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Zarate, however, said Duterte's endorsement of Cayetano and Velasco "confirms" that the House is not as independent as it should be.

"Itong nangyayari na ito just confirms na ang Kongreso, lalo na ang House, na independent and co-equal branch ito, na ang nagdidikta dito ay yung pinakamalaking padron sa ating bansa under a patronage system — yung Presidente," he said in a separate interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

Zarate noted that it was "first in a longest time" where an incumbent President openly endorsed a candidate for Speaker.

"Dati sa nakaraan bulong brigade lang yan. Kung sino pipiliin ng Presidente idadaan niya sa kanyang mga allies. But dito, in a public event in-announce niya," the minority lawmaker said.

Zarata expressed doubt that Duterte had the public in mind when he made the announcement, saying the President just wanted to pacify the warring factions within his administration. —KBK, GMA News