PRRD may meet allies on House speaker race

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte at the Matina Enclaves in Davao City on August 17, 2020. ROBINSON NIÑAL JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte may meet with House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco to resolve the issue over their term-sharing agreement as leader of the House of Representatives, Malacañang said Monday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque was unable to confirm if Duterte will meet with his two allies but noted that the President has some “private meetings” scheduled.

“I cannot say for certain because in my schedule that I have, nakasulat lang po mga private meetings (it’s just listed as private meetings),” he said in a virtual Palace briefing.

Roque recalled that Duterte stated his intention to meet both Cayetano and Velasco but was not sure when.

“What I can say is in the last address to the people sa (in) Davao po, sinabi ni Pangulo na siguro kakausapin po niya si Speaker Cayetano at si Congressman Lord Allan Velasco (the President said he may speak to Speaker Cayetano and Congressman Lord Allan Velasco). But I cannot say if it is scheduled for this week but I will find out,” he said.

Roque said he is not allowed to divulge the schedule ahead of time but could release the information around the same day before the meeting.

He also reiterated that Duterte still hopes that his two supporters honor their term-sharing agreement even after more than 200 lawmakers signed a manifesto of support for Cayetano’s continued leadership.

“Ulitin ko lang po iyong sabi ni Presidente (I will repeat what the President said), ‘I wish both parties will honor the agreement pero wala akong magagawa kung walang boto si Congressman Lord Allan Velasco (but I can’t do anything if Congressman Lord Allan Velasco doesn’t have the votes),’” he said.

Under the term-sharing deal brokered by Duterte, Cayetano would serve as the House Speaker for the first 15 months, or until October 2020 while Velasco would take over and assume the position for the remaining 21 months or until the 18th Congress ends in 2022.

Roque pointed out that while the “gentleman’s agreement” binds Duterte’s two allies, it might not be the same for members of the House.

PDP-Laban executive director Ron Munsayac has claimed that Cayetano and Velasco are set to meet Duterte on Tuesday.

He said leaders of various political parties will join the meeting to settle the issues surrounding the 15-21 term-sharing deal between Cayetano and Velasco.