The race for House Speaker in the 20th Congress is becoming increasingly competitive, with Davao City Representative Paolo Duterte being considered as a potential fifth candidate for the position. The suggestion reportedly came from his sister, Vice President Sara Duterte, during a public appearance in Davao City on May 17.

The Vice President has expressed interest in seeing her brother take on a more prominent role in the House of Representatives, possibly even leading the minority bloc if he does not secure the speakership. As of now, Paolo Duterte has not made a formal statement about whether he intends to enter the race.

Should he decide to run, he would be joining a growing list of possible contenders that includes incumbent Speaker Martin Romualdez, Navotas Representative Toby Tiangco, Bacolod Representative Albee Benitez, and Ilocos Norte Representative Angelo Marcos Barba.

Despite the emerging candidates, Speaker Romualdez is believed to retain strong support within the House. Administration allies have indicated that he continues to hold the numbers needed to maintain his post, with reports suggesting that over 240 lawmakers have signed a manifesto backing his leadership.

The speakership race is expected to take center stage when the 20th Congress convenes in July 2025. With alliances shifting and new contenders possibly entering the field, the outcome could significantly influence the direction of the legislative agenda in the next three years.