PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, May 27, vowed to step down from office if his son, Davao City Representative-elect Paolo "Pulong" Duterte, will seek the speakership of the House of Representatives.
Reacting to his father's pronouncement, the younger Duterte said he has no plan of seeking the House Speakership.
"I did not say I want to be Speaker. May nagkamali na naman [nang] bulong sa tenga mo, Mr. President (Someone has fed you wrong information, Mr. President)," the Davao City Representative-elect said in a post on his Facebook account.
The President made the remark after learning that his son was being considered to be the next House Speaker.
Duterte said it would look bad if his sons gets the highest position at the House of Representatives while he serves as the country's highest official in the land.
His two other children, Sara "Inday" Duterte-Carpio and Sebastian "Baste" Duterte, were also proclaimed mayor and vice mayor, respectively, of Davao City.
Duterte said he would talk to Paolo to dissuade him from running for Speaker of the House of the Representatives.
"Itong si Paolo, sabihin ko sa kanya (I will tell Paolo), if you run for speakership, let me know. Kasi kung tatakbo ka, mag-resign ako. Kasi marami na tayo (Because if you run, I will resign because many of us are already holding positions in government)," he said in a speech delivered before generals at Palace's Rizal Hall.
"'Yung kapatid mo, mayor. With the vice mayor, anak ko, 'yung youngest son ko, si Baste, and Pulong as Speaker, ako ang Presidente, hindi na maganda tignan (It would look bad if my daughter is the mayor, my youngest son Baste is the vice mayor, and Pulong will be the House Speaker while I'm the President)," he added.
The President's remarks came after Davao del Norte Representative Pantaleon Alvarez expressed support for the possible House speakership bid of the younger Duterte.
House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez, on the other hand, said it may be a bad idea if the presidential son gets elected as House Speaker, considering that his father is the President.
Duterte guaranteed that he would not hesitate to resign if his son does not heed his advice.
"Speakership, neutral ako (I'm neutral when it comes to the House Speakership). My son Paolo, he's being rooted to run. I will tell my son publicly now, we would have a talk," he said.
"If he insists on running, maniwala siya sa mga adviser niya (if he heeds his advisers), go ahead. Let me know three days in advance before you make the announcement and I will tender my resignation," he added. (SunStar Philippines)