Former Vice President Jejomar Binay on Wednesday said his reason for running for a Congress seat is to again serve the people, and not to seek the top post of Speaker of the House of Representatives.
“Kakandidato ako para sa Congress para makapaglingkod muli para sa buong bansa, hindi ang speakership ang dahilan para ako ay magkandidato,” Binay said in a news forum in Manila.
Binay said that even if he wins, he expects the next Speaker will be selected from pro-administration lawmakers.
“’Yung speaker-speakership, let’s leave it to realities,” Binay said. “’Yung speakership, una ay laging kung sino ang magustuhan ng administrasyon.”
The House is expected to elect a new Speaker, to succeed former President and Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, in July 2019.
Binay is gunning for a Congress seat for the First District of Makati City. His daughter Abby and Junjun, meanwhile, will contest the mayoralty.
Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, who is running as representative of Taguig, had already said that he would vie for the speakership if he gets elected.
Cayetano and his wife Lani’s candidacy, however, is being questioned before the Commission on Elections as the former Foreign Affairs secretary allegedly lacked residency.