Malaca±ang: The Palace on Thursday distanced itself from recent reports of a possible plot to replace House Speaker Bojie Dy. Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro clarified that the choice of congressional leaders is beyond the President’s authority.
According to Philippines News Agency, Castro emphasized that the President does not have control over the selection of congressional leadership. In a press briefing at the Palace, she stated, “Ang pagpili po kasi ng liderato ng Kongreso ay wala naman po sa kamay ng Pangulo. Kung ano po ang kanilang magiging desisyon diyan, kung ano ang kanilang magiging pagpapatakbo diyan hindi po iyan saklaw ng Pangulo (The selection of congressional leadership is not within the President’s hands. Whatever decisions they make and how they operate is beyond the President’s authority).”
Castro further added, “So, nasa kanila po iyan kung ano po iyong nais nilang gawin sa House of Representatives (It is up to them to determine what they want to do in the House of Representatives).”
Amid these developments, Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno is reportedly being eyed as the supposed candidate to replace Dy. However, when asked whether President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. could influence the matter, Castro replied, “Wala po akong nakikita at wala pong ganoon (I do not see any and there is none).”
Dy assumed the role of House Speaker after succeeding Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez in September, during a period marked by public outrage over scandals related to the national budget and flood control projects.
