By Charissa Luci-Atienza
Davao City Rep. Paolo "Pulong" Duterte asked Sunday his colleagues in the coming 18th Congress to choose a leader who is not self-serving and has high regard for others, especially for women.
Davao City Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte (KEITH BACONGCO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
He made the call after Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano, one of the Speakership bets, named Wen Velasco, wife of Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco as the one behind the proposed term-sharing.
"Sa mga kapwa ko mambabatas, ako po ay baguhan lamang, pero sa tingin ko, ang nangyayari ngayon ay dapat na magsilbing paalaala sa atin sa ating pagpili ng ating lider sa Kongreso," he said in a statement.
"Piliin po natin ang lider na may respeto sa kapwa, lalo na sa babae — kahit na asawa pa man ito ng kanyang kalaban. Piliin po natin ang lider na ang interes ay hindi pansarili, tiyak na maninindigan at tunay na aalalay kay Pangulong Duterte at sa kanyang administasyon para isulong ang tunay at positibong pagbabago sa ating bansa," Rep. Duterte stressed.
He set the qualifications for the next Speaker, after President Duterte said he was not endorsing a bet in the Speakership race.
The presidential son cautioned a "friend" against using their close ties to trample on others, including political rivals and their family members.
"Magkaibigan tayo, pero ang pagkakaibigan na ito ay may limitasyon," Rep. Duterte said.
"Ang pagkakaibigan natin ay hindi lisensya para gamitin ninyo ako upang sirain ang inyong kalaban, bastusin ang kanyang asawa o ang kanyang pamilya," he said.
He also appealed to various quarters not to drag his name into the Speakership controversy.
"Pakiusap lang po. Kung sino man ang gusto na idamay ako sa usapin ng speakership sa House of Representatives — huwag po ninyo akong gamitin. Huwag po ang pangalan ko," he said.