‘Gentleman’s deal’ on House term-sharing still stands: Velasco

“Sa akin, ang alam ko, tuloy pa rin (As far as I know, the deal still stands). An agreement is an agreement. A gentleman’s agreement is a gentleman’s agreement,” Velasco told reporters in an interview. (File photo: Cong LordAllan Velasco/Facebook)

MANILA — Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco on Monday said the term-sharing agreement he had with Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano still stands.

“Sa akin, ang alam ko, tuloy pa rin (As far as I know, the deal still stands). An agreement is an agreement. A gentleman’s agreement is a gentleman’s agreement,” Velasco told reporters in an interview.

“Based on the gentleman’s agreement, I will see you next year as the next Speaker of the House,” he added.

President Rodrigo Duterte brokered the term-sharing agreement between Cayetano and Velasco in the run-up to the Speakership election on July 22.

Under the agreement, Cayetano would hold the post for 15 months, or up to October next year, after which Velasco takes over for the final 21 months.

Cayetano, for his part, noted that the term-sharing deal is still in effect.

“As far as I’m concerned, ‘yun yung usapan ‘di ba? At ang sinabi ko sa ating Pangulo, I’ll go to him for instructions, he’s the head of the coalition. As far as I’m concerned, walang nagbago (As far as I’m concerned, that was the agreement right? At I’ve been telling the President that I’ll go to him for instructions [since] he’s the head of the coalition. As far as I’m concerned, nothing has changed),” Cayetano said in a television interview.

Asked if he prefers to have the Speakership for the entirety of the 18th Congress, Cayetano answered in the affirmative but stressed that it still depends on the decision of the President.