The Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper
Pulong Duterte appeals to House members
PRESIDENTIAL SON and Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte appealed to lawmakers to respect each other amid the row in the House leadership between Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Jay Velasco.
Both Cayetano and Velasco are strong political allies of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Cayetano was supposed to hand over his position September 30 to Velasco as part of their 2019 team-sharing agreement. The president also spoke to Cayetano and Velasco to end their squabble with Velasco taking over the House leadership October 14.
But Cayetano insisted to stay after lawmakers allied with him rejected his resignation to pave way for the transition, adding, more than 200 lawmakers from 304 representatives are supporting him.
Friends
The young Duterte admitted being friends to both Cayetano and Velasco, but because of tug-ofwar
between the two allies, he said: “Due to this issue on the term-sharing agreement, Congress is currently mired in what seems to be a battle between two people I’m close with. I am saddened that it has come to this —a House divided. And if we remain a House divided, we will fail in our mandate to
as serve the people their representatives.”
Duterte said Velasco has the right to assert his claim, however, majority of the lawmakers are supporting Cayetano.
“It can’t be denied that such a term-sharing agreement was made before. Because of this, Congressman Velasco has the right to assert his claim to the Speakership. However, we have also seen that a considerable number of our colleagues still support Speaker Cayetano.”
Unified House
“As I am all for a unified House, and given the value I place in every member of Congress, I refuse to make any statement that will favor or damage either of my two good friends who are both asserting their right to be our Speaker,” he said.
Cayetano said more than 200 lawmakers from 304 representatives are supporting him.
Duterte said if and when the day comes that they are called to select the House leader, “I hope we vote for someone who is committed, who understands what we want to achieve for our constituents, and who can fight for and with us, and unify the 300 members of this House of Representatives despite our many differences. And when we do make that decision, I hope we can find it in our hearts to vote for someone, not just for convenience or affiliation, but whom we feel strongly can represent the House with the dignity that it deserves.”
“And whatever may be the result of this, I humbly ask my colleagues to remain respectful to one another, and support whoever is the Speaker. At the end of this episode, I hope we can go beyond politics and remember that more than power, it is the relationships we’ve formed in these halls of Congress and our duties to the people that matter most,” he added.
Duterte’s statement was shared by his allies in the House - Rep. Eric Yap, of ACT-CIS party-list; and Sulu Rep. Samier Tan.
Uphold Agreement
For his part, Velasco said trust and honor are values that are important because they reveal true character of a leader.
“When the House Speakership term-sharing agreement was entered into, it was based on mutual trust and confidence. After all, it was an agreement brokered by and forged in the presence of no less than President Rodrigo Duterte.”
“The covenant was crystal clear: a 15-21 term-sharing agreement. The first term expires on Sept 30, after which the second term immediately begins. That was the pledge made before the President. As true leaders and as examples for our people, both sides are obligated to avoid situations or statements that would subvert the agreement and betray the trust of our people who’ve stood witness to the covenant. Let us uphold the agreement as this was made - for God and our country 1521 - I have always intended to honor the agreement. We all should. Our people deserve nothing less,” Velasco said.