House speakership showdown set on October 14

METRO MANILA – The House leadership will be decided on Oct. 14 between incumbent Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco.

The two house representative have been trading blows on who should be the house speaker after the agreed on  a term-sharing agreement in 2019.

Velasco is supposed to assume the position this month but Cayetano indicated that he will not give up the house speakership without a fight.

President Duterte also met with the two congressman at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang last week to iron out issues between them.

The President has made it clear that he will not side anyone as this is under the jurisdiction of the congress. He also reiterated that he wants the 2021 budget to be passed without any delays.

Allies of Cayetano said that they are not bound by the term-sharing agreement facilitated by the President, they insist that Velasco does not have any ‘word of honor’.

Deputy Speaker Fredenil Castro who took over the post said that Velasco does not have the word of honor as Velasco “did not follow through on the original agreement to work with Cayetano last year.

Fellow deputy speaker, LRay Villafuerte of Camarines Sur openly rebuked Velasco “suddenly incessant rant” on the 15-21 term-sharing deal saying that Cayetano has majority of the support in Congress. Velasco said that Cayetano delaying his resignation has something to do with the billion pesos in district allocation.

Related Article: https://www.theasianaffairs.com/philippines/2020/10/02/duterte-cayetano-meeting-after-solon-rejected-his-resignation/