Velasco insists on turnover, asks Cayetano to step down

MANILA, Philippines — Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco has insisted on the term-sharing agreement with Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and vowed to take over the House leadership as agreed upon in their meeting with President Duterte.

In a Facebook video late Friday night, the presumptive speaker asked Cayetano to honor their deal with the President and resign from his post on Oct. 14, signaling the continuation of the speakership row despite the decision of the House majority earlier this week to keep Cayetano as speaker.

“Speaker Cayetano, you gave your word in front of the President to honor the term-sharing agreement. Please, I appeal to you: finish the budget and resign on Oct. 14,” he stressed.

Velasco urged his rival to “stop with the theatrics” and “show the public that we, as representatives, are still decent, honorable and trustworthy leaders whose only agenda is to serve the people.”

“Our word is our honor. The people should be able to trust their leaders when they give their word,” he argued.

In making the appeal, Velasco accused Cayetano of attacking him while trying to cling on to the speakership post.

“In his desperate attempt to hang on to power and tighten his grip on House leadership, Speaker Cayetano shamelessly and unabashedly resorted to attacking me and spreading lies,” the President’s party-mate in the ruling PDP-Laban pointed out.

“For the last month, the attacks have escalated to malign me and paint me as power-hungry and evil. But in spite of these, I have kept quiet as a gentleman and a statesman out of respect for the President,” Velasco lamented.

Velasco accused the Speaker and his camp of propagating “coordinated lies and misinformation – which are all meant to undermine the term sharing agreement.”

He denied allegations by Cayetano allies that he has been “lazy” and “absent” during crucial times in Congress.

“This is a complete falsehood. I have always worked quietly and consistently away from the camera,” he explained.

The congressman also belied insinuations that he plotted the ouster of Cayetano several times since last year in violation of their agreement.

“Coup plot? It’s a cheap shot. I will repeat the words I already said to the President and our people: I am a real man who has word of honor,” he maintained.

Velasco further alleged that Cayetano is holding the 2021 national budget hostage to keep the House leadership.

“Is this budget for the nation or budget for your gang? Is this budget relevant to the pandemic or will the lion’s share benefit your gang? Is this why Speaker Cayetano and his sidekicks are adamant and fiercely fighting the peaceful transition of House leadership? Is this why Speaker Cayetano is trying to blackmail President Duterte and hold the budget hostage if his term is not extended?” he asked.

The Marinduque lawmaker also apologized to the public for the speakership row during the budget deliberations.

“To the Filipino people whom we have promised to serve, I express my deep apology on behalf of my colleagues in Congress because you don’t deserve this,” he closed.

Budget issue

Political analyst Edmund Tayao agreed that the speakership row has something to do with the budget for election year.

“I think the reason why it’s imperative to get the leadership of the House is because you’re talking of the budget – however we try to look at it,” he explained in the episode of “The Chiefs” on One News Channel last Friday night.

“For politicians, it would be good for everyone to be part of budget process that will be used during the next election period. You would really want the lion’s share of the budget. If I’m outgoing or presumptive Speaker I’ll make an effort to be involved in the budget process,” Tayao pointed out.

Tayao believed that the speakership post is also crucial for those who would seek higher elective position in the next polls.

“If you’re speaker you have significant amount of influence and significant control of the budget. You’re also a necessary ally for the elections. Whether you like it or not, resources matter,” he added.

Meanwhile, allies of Velasco slammed the removal of Rep, Mikee Romero as deputy speaker and his replacement by Capiz Rep. Fred Castro.

PBA Rep. Jericho Nograles and AAMBIS-OWWA Rep. Sharon Garin both branded the move as an “affront” to their 52-member party-list coalition since Romero is their president.

“Removing Mikee as deputy speaker, who is our president, no less, is an affront to our coalition and an insult to everything we have worked for as a bloc,” Garin lamented.

The election of Castro came after he delivered a privilege speech calling for the resignation of supporters of Velasco from the House leadership and committee chairmanship posts.

The removal of Romero, representative of 1-Pacman party-list, came despite commitment by Cayetano that no changes in House leadership posts and committee chairmanships would be affected by the term-sharing deal forged in a meeting with President Duterte.