By Prince Golez

President Rodrigo Duterte believes Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco has the right to gun for the speakership post.

Velasco met with Duterte in Malacañang last night to discuss the House leadership.

“Humingi ng permiso si Congressman Lord Allan para tumakbo bilang Speaker at ang sagot ng Presidente: ‘Karapatan mo ‘yan, sang-ayon sa kasunduan ninyo kay Speaker Alan Cayetano’,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a virtual presser Tuesday.

“Ang alam ko si Congressman Allan Velasco ang humingi ng meeting at napagbigyan siya kagabi. Ito po ay matapos nakipagkulong ang presidente sa ilang miyembro ng Gabinet at matapos yung kanyang Ulat sa Bayan,” added Roque.

Asked if the President gave Velasco his blessing to pursue the House of Representatives’ top post, the secretary told reporters: “Ayaw ko na pong mag-annotate. ‘Yan lang ang pinasabi sa aking sa taumbayan. I think people can make their own conclusions.”

Duterte brokered the term-sharing agreement between Cayetano and Velasco in 2019. Under the deal, Cayetano will serve as Speaker for 15 months, and Velasco will take over the remaining 21 months.