Bribery 'always present' in speakership race – solon

Voting-buying is par for the course in the House of Representatives whenever it's time to elect a new speaker, claimed an outgoing congressman who declined to be named, to avoid getting the ire of his House colleagues.

"Ikaw naman, para kang bago (You're acting like a newbie)," the solon told this reporter after he was asked to comment about the bribery allegations in connection with the speakership race for the upcoming 18th Congress.

"Every time there's an election, all those components – bribery, vote-buying, etc. – are always present," he said.

There are around half a dozen congressmen vying for the speaker's post, which will be determined by the House members next month or the day of President Rodrigo Duterte's fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA).

But alleged bribery among the lawmakers became the juicy subplot when

former Speaker and reelected Davao del Norte 1st district Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez claimed that P500,000 to P1 million were being dangled to the House members in exchange for their votes.

The figure then ballooned to P7 million based on information shared with reporters by Pampanga 3rd district Rep. Dong Gonzales. Both Alvarez and Gonzales are aspiring to become speaker.

If the bribing allegations are true, then a speaker-hopeful would need deep pockets since there are a total of 304 House members in this 18th Congress.

"Wala nang hiyaan talaga (There's no shame it in anymore)," the unnamed congressman further commented.

Meanwhile, reelected Camiguin lone district Rep, Xavier Jesus (XJ) Romualdo said that acceptability still plays a major part in the solons' decision-making process on who should be the next speaker.

"One has to be acceptable to the members of the House also in order for them to actually vote for you," he said.

"Goodwill is even more crucial in a situation where all the speakership contenders are close to the President and the President opts not to endorse anyone." Romualdo noted.

Practically all the speaker-wannabes are allied with President Duterte.