MANILA, Philippines — House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco is seeking reelection for a third term as Marinduque’s congressional representative.
Velasco filed his certificate of candidacy for Marinduque representative before the Commission on Elections in the town of Boac on Tuesday.
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“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,” he said.
Velasco, a close ally of President Rodrigo Duterte, has shepherded the passage of key administration measures, including proposals in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, he has also kept his hands off the hot-button issue of the renewal of ABS-CBN’s broadcast franchise, which he is leaving for the next Congress to decide on.
Velasco ascended to the speakership in a stunning coup that ousted his predecessor Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano (Taguig-Pateros).
The two were supposed to adhere to a term-sharing agreement, where Cayetano sits for the first 15 months of the 18th Congress and Velasco sits for the remaining 21 months.