Filtered By: Topstories
News

‘If I win, next House Speaker will be chosen by my party’—Gibo


Presidential candidate Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Saturday said that if he wins the presidential race in May, selecting the next Speaker of the House of Representatives would depend on his party’s vote and not based on the decision of only one or a few people. Teodoro announced this after some members of his ruling party, Lakas-Kampi-CMD, were quoted as saying that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is currently running for a congressional seat in the second district of Pampanga, would be their bet for the top House post. “‘Yan ay pagbobotahan ng partido at hindi desisyon ng isang tao o ilang tao. ‘Yan ay desisyon ng partido, base sa kung ano ang ikabubuti ng bansa at ng partido," Teodoro told GMANews.TV after the taping of Kandidato, a GMA News and Public Affairs special which will air this March. (This matter would be put to a vote by the party, and not decided by just one or some people. This would be the party’s decision based on what is good for the country and for our party.) Last Monday, a Philippine Star report quoted an administration party member, Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III, as saying that Lakas-Kampi-CMD would likely have the numbers to install Mrs. Arroyo as the next House speaker. (See: Palace: ‘Speaker Arroyo’ still pure speculation) The administration party standard-bearer however clarified that there have been no talks among members of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD party on who they will field as their bet for House speakership when the 15th Congress convenes in July. “Hanggang ngayon ay wala pang desisyon at wala pang usapan tungkol diyan (Until now, there is no decision yet and no discussion yet regarding that matter)," he said. Despite this, Teodoro said he had no reason to doubt Mrs. Arroyo’s capability to lead the House of Representatives in case she is elected as its next Speaker. “Lahat naman ay may kakayahan. Naging presidente na ang ating pangulo at naging senadora noong araw (Everyone is qualified. Mrs. Arroyo already has experience as president, and also served as senator earlier)," he said. Teodoro is currently the national chairman and standard-bearer of the ruling party, Lakas-Kampi-CMD, while Mrs. Arroyo serves as president emeritus. Administration critics have long claimed that Mrs. Arroyo’s congressional bid is part of her ploy to perpetuate herself in power after her presidential term ends on June 30, 2010. Her political opponents allege that her allies in Congress might push for a constitutional amendment that will convert the next Congress into a unicameral assembly under a parliamentary system of government, which in turn would enable her – provided that she wins a seat in Congress – to vie for the position of prime minister.—JV, GMANews.TV

LOADING CONTENT