The presidential son made the announcement more than a month after his father, President Rodrigo R. Duterte, said that he would resign if his son would become House Speaker.
In a press release issued by the Davao City Information Office, Paolo, who earlier said that he has no interest for the top post in the Lower House, said he changed his mind about joining the speakership race because of the term-sharing deal being pushed by the Taguig City Representative Alan Peter Cayetano, the running mate of then presidential candidate Duterte.
The release quoted Paolo as saying that he would be joining the race for the speakership as the Lower House has become divided and that he might be able to unite it.
“The House is divided, I might be able to help unite it. Pareho lang kaming binoto ng mga tao ah. Kung term sharing, term sharing na kaming lahat (We’re all voted by the people. If term sharing, let term sharing be given to all),” he said.
Paolo said he would ask the bloc members of Visayas, Mindanao, and party list groups to select their own speakers.
“We are not talking about two persons here. We are talking about our beloved country. It is not about speakership alone, but who is the right person to unite Congress and I hope those running for the speakership stop influencing the cabinet,” he said.
Paolo, who served as councilor from 2008 to 2013, vice mayor from 2013 until 2016, and re-elected in 2016 until he resigned in 2018, urged the representatives to a respectful leader who will support the agenda of President Duterte and his administration.
"Let’s choose a leader whose interest is not for himself but one who will certainly stand and support President Duterte and his administration in advancing real and positive change for the country),” he said.
