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VP Sara says she asked Pulong to either run for Speaker or minority leader

Vice President Sara Duterte on Saturday said that she had suggested to her brother, reelected Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo 'Pulong' Duterte, to run for House speaker or minority leader in the 20th Congress. 'Sinabihan ko si Congressman Pulong. Sabi ko sa kaniya, 'Baka gusto mo lumaban ng Speaker.' Hindi pa siya sumagot. Inisip din niya siguro 'yung chances niya na manalo,' Duterte said in a briefing with reporters, as reported by Jonathan Andal on 24 Oras Weekend on Saturday. (I asked Congressman Pulong. I told him, 'Maybe you want to run for Speaker.' He has not yet responded. He must have also thought about his chances of winning.) 'Sinabi ko sa kaniya, 'Kung hindi ka manalo ng Speaker, then kunin mo 'yung minority'… Wala akong candidate for Speaker or for Senate President. Wala din lumapit sa akin for Speaker or for Senate President,' she added. (I told him, if you do not win as Speaker, then you should go for the minority leadership… I do not have a candidate for Speaker or for Senate President. No one has approached me to seek my support for Speaker or for Senate President.) Meanwhile, Speaker Martin Romualdez's allies are confident that he will remain in office. Deputy Speaker David ''Jay-Jay'' Suarez said at least 240 congressmen have signed the manifesto of support for Romualdez. 'Kung titignan natin sa numero at bilang pa lang, sigurado na po tayo na magpapatuloy si Speaker Martin Romualdez bilang Speaker ng Kongreso sa susunod na tatlong taon. We're very confident with the support na pinakita ng mga partido,' Suarez said. (If we look at the numbers, we are sure that Speaker Martin Romualdez will continue as Speaker of Congress for the next three years. We're very confident with the support shown by the parties.) Suarez said the initiative was backed by lawmakers from all major blocs—including Lakas-CMD, National Unity Party (NUP), Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), Nacionalista Party (NP), Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), and the Party-list Coalition Foundation Inc. (PCFI). 'Napaka-kritikal po 'yung susunod na tatlong taon para sa ating bansa. At napakahalaga na stable at nakakaisa ang Kongreso behind our President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos,' Suarez said. (The next three years are very critical for our country, and it is very important that Congress is stable and united behind our President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos). Suarez clarified that the meeting of party leaders on Friday was not for a 'loyalty check.' 'It's more of a meet and greet,' Suarez said. — Jamil Santos/VBL, GMA Integrated News