Velasco takes oath as new House Speaker in session outside House

METRO MANILA – A total of 186 congressmen, a majority of the 299 members of the House of Representatives, have elected Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco to unseat Alan Peter Cayetano as the new Speaker in a session held outside the House of Representatives.

The election, which described by allies of Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano “illegal.”, happened at the Celebrity Sports Plaza in Quezon City, despite Cayetano’s camp questioning the legality of the process.

Buhay Partylist Rep. Lito Atienza, moved to declare the House Speakership position vacant to essentially unseat Cayetano.

Of 299 members of the House of Representatives, 186 elected Velasco as the next House Speaker.

Velasco said that today history was made and that he wholeheartedly accepts the challenges of being the  Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The 42-year-old congressman also expressed gratitude to the President for inspiring politicians to to be of service to the nation.

He also thanked Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and Deputy Speaker Paolo “Pulong” Duterte as well as Senator Bong Go for their support.

Cayetano, on the other hand, question the validity of the ‘fake session’ by saying that session should only be held in the Batasang Pambansa.

According to the House Rules, lawmakers can elect a new Speaker only when the session is ongoing. The House session is currently suspended until Tuesday, October 13. President Duterte calls for a special session to ensure that the 2021 budget was approved on the timely manner despite in the middle of House power struggle.

Related Article: https://www.theasianaffairs.com/philippines/2020/10/12/velascos-allies-moves-to-oust-cayetano-as-house-speaker/