By Noreen Jazul
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles expressed confidence that members of the House of Representatives will elect Alan Peter Cayetano as their speaker this morning.
Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano (KARL NORMAN ALONZO/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO/ MANILA BULLETIN)
"I think lahat naman ng mga kongresista ay nag uusap usap na, lahat nga mga partido, ng koalisyon, ay nag uusap usap na," Nograles said.
"I think plantsado na," he added.
Nograles added the administration is not expecting "any surprises" in today's election for speaker and majority leader.
"As far as the SONA is concerned, ang pinaka importante when you talk about the election for this morning's purpose, para sa purpose ng pag receive, at pag tanggap ng pangulo, it’s just basically the speaker and the majority leader ang pinaka importante," the Cabinet Secretary said.
"But I won't be surprised if there would be some deputy speakers who would be elected as well this morning just to organize the House," Nograles added.
'Breakfast meetings'
The Cabinet Secretary said he sees no conflict in the simultaneous breakfast meetings of Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte and Taguig-Pateros Rep. Cayetano.
Nograles added the Davao City representative probably held a separate breakfast meeting because he is "a new congressman."
"I don't want to speculate kung bakit , but it could be as simple as, siguro because Paolo is a new congressman and he happens to be the son of the President, baka kinantsawan lang siya," Nograles said.