President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. and House Speaker Faustino Dy III (File photos)
Malacañang distanced President Marcos from fresh rumors of a looming House leadership change, stressing that the speakership is entirely an internal matter of the House of Representatives and not something the Chief Executive controls.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said this amid reports that Speaker Faustino "Bojie" Dy III — barely three months into the post — may soon be replaced, with Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno supposedly being eyed as his successor.
In a press briefing on Thursday, Nov. 20, Castro said Marcos plays no role in deciding who should lead the chamber.
“Ang pagpili po kasi ng liderato ng Kongreso ay wala naman po sa kamay ng Pangulo (The selection of Congress’ leadership is not in the hands of the President),” she said
“Kung ano po ang kanilang magiging desisyon… nasa kanila po ‘yan (Whatever decision they make is up to them),”
Asked directly whether Malacañang preferred Puno for the speakership, Castro was categorical.
“Wala po akong nakikita at wala pong ganoon (I don’t see anything like that, and there is no such thing),” she said, rejecting suggestions that the Palace was nudging lawmakers toward a specific candidate.
Dy replaced Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez as House Speaker after the latter was implicated in the corruption scandal surrounding flood control projects.