Speaker Lord Allan Velasco on Tuesday, Oct. 5 filed his certificate of candidacy for a third and final term as representative of the lone district of Marinduque in the House of Representatives.
The House leader is the son of incumbent Marinduque Gov. Presbitero Velasco, a retired Supreme Court justice.
“I’m really grateful to the people of Marinduque for giving me many chances and I’m asking them for another one so I can continue to champion their interests and welfare in Congress,” Velasco said as he filed Tuesday, October 5, his certificate of candidacy (COC) for the May 2022 polls before the local office of the Commission on Elections in Boac town.
“There’s so much to do for Marinduqueños, and I would very much like to have the honor of representing them again,” he added.
Velasco, who hails from Torrijos own, was first elected Marinduque congressman in 2010. He lost a re-election bid to Regina Ongsiako-Reyes who was later unseated following findings that she is not qualified to become a congresswoman because she is a naturalized American citizen.
Velasco ran again for the same post in 2016 and 2019, winning in both instances.
He will represent the PDP-Laban party in the 2022 elections.
Also seeking a congressional seat next year are former president and Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.
Arroyo, a sure winner in the congressional race in Pampanga’s second district, is expected to pursue another term as House leader. Velasco and Alvarez are also seen as contenders for the top Lower House seat.
However, their fate as speaker will rely heavily on who among the presidential contenders will win.
Arroyo and Velasco are close allies of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, who might change her mind about seeking re-election in her city and instead run for president.
A presidency under Sen. Panfilo Lacson will give Alvarez the edge among all contenders for speaker considering that they are current leaders of Partido Reporma.