IN gratitude for the help extended by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte to his Speakership bid Speaker Lord Allan Velasco said she would “deinitely” support the presidential daughter once she decides to run for a national post, particularly the presidency.
Last year, Mayor Sara said she would announce her decision in January 2021 on whether or not she will run for president in May 2022.
“Definitely, I will support her,” Velasco said adding that he has been urging the Davao City Mayor to run for a national post.
Velasco supported Duterte’s Hugpong ng Pagbabago party (HNP) in the 2019 senatorial elections.
Velasco has acknowledged the support given to her by Duterte.
“Sa tingin ko malaking tulong din po talaga si Mayor Sara Duterte. Alam naman po natin ang impluwensoya po ni Sara,” Velasco said in an interview.
“And I think that was a big push dito sa pag-upo natin bilang Speaker ng House,” he added.
Velasco likewise admitted that his dinner with Mayor Sara days before his election was meant to gain the endorsement of her party HNP
“With the HNP joining or endorsing my speakership definitely I believe it was a tippng point,” the Speaker said.
Prior to the installation of Velasco, Mayor Sara issued a statement underscoring the support of HNP to the term-sharing agreement between Velasco and Taguig City Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano.
About 186 solons removed Cayetano from the post after he refused to honor the term-sharing agreement.
In another interview, Velasco said he has no plans of running for a national post come the 2022 elections.
This is the reason, Velasco said, why he opted to work quietly and remain in the background and only wants to serve the country for the sake of the President.
“Ako naman kasi I don’t have any national ambitions. That’s the reason why I always remain in the background,” he said.
“I think that’s one of the major differences sa inyong lingkod at other Speakers. I’m not so sure if they had national ambitions also but ako talaga, I’m just doing this for the sake of the country, for the sake of the President, he added.
“I just want to keep on delivering yung mga kinakailangan niya. But if you expect me to be out and always seen on TV, mas gusto ko na nasa background na lang kasi medyo shy tayo,” Velasco, the youngest ever Speaker, said.
