No ‘next Speaker’ spiel for Floirendo as Sara, Hugpong go through Davao del Norte

TAGUM, Davao del Norte—He may have donated P75 million to President Rodrigo Duterte's campaign in 2016 but Davao del Norte Representative Antonio “Tonyboy” Floirendo, Jr.’s bid for the speakership has yet to receive support from the President's daughter Sara.

Sara, the leader of the regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago has been going around the country to campaign for senatorial candidates who have expressed support for her father and his legislative agenda.

On the campaign trail, she has introduced two congressional candidates as the next Speaker of the House —Lord Allan Velasco of Marinduque and Martin Romualdez of Leyte.

Such was not the case for Floirendo, who has also expressed his plan to vie for the speakership when the 18th Congress opens in July, when he hosted the Hugpong campaign here.

“We haven’t talked about it. Proclamation rally pa lang. I did not discuss it with her,” Floirendo said.

“Ngayon lang kami ulit nagkita rito, pero mabilis eh. I have not talked to her about it eh, and I have not talked to anyone,” he said of the President's daughter.

Floirendo said the real battle was in the House of Representatives.

“I will seek the endorsement of... all congressmen,” Floirendo said. —NB, GMA News