Duterte warns against not honoring House term-sharing deal

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte at the Grand Hyatt Manila in Taguig City on October 16, 2019. ROBINSON NIÑAL JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA — President Rodrigo warned his two allies Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco against breaking the term-sharing deal they agreed upon.

Duterte reminded them that they shared a “gentlemen’s agreement” to take turns to hold the highest position at the House of Representatives.

“If anyone of them would not honor it, be it Lord Velasco or si Peter Cayetano that is — that would be his decision,” Duterte said in a media interview in Davao City on Saturday.

“But iyon, he has to take care that there is an agreement of sharing. If you violate it… Usapan ‘yan (that’s an agreement),” he added.

He, however, said he was satisfied with the performance of the House under Cayetano’s leadership.

“Yes, of course. Sabi ko (I said) he is a shining star,” Duterte said.

“Whatever you say, the guy has been elected already,” he added.

Pressed for a response on the possibility of the term-sharing deal being ignored, Duterte said: “We should answer that question when we cross the bridge.”

Duterte, who earlier distanced himself from the term-sharing deal, said he might step in should tension arise between the two lawmakers and the House.

“It is going to be a problem so we will solve the problem when we are there. Wala pa naman (But it has yet to happen). It remains to be hypothetical,” Duterte said.

On Oct. 28, Cayetano said he was open to the idea of serving a full term of House Speakership, should Velasco agree to it.

This after Cayetano’s allies in the lower chamber raised the possibility that he might retain his post following strong approval and trust scores.

Under the term-sharing deal brokered by Duterte on July 22, Cayetano would hold the highest position at the House for 15 months, or until October 2020, while Velasco would take over and serve until the 18th Congress ends in 2022.

Cayetano was Duterte’s former foreign affairs secretary and running mate in the 2016 elections.

Velasco was the top pick of the President’s political party, the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan, to lead the House.

On Nov. 11, Cayetano assured Velasco that the term-sharing agreement still stands. Velasco, for his part, expressed confidence that Cayetano would let him take over in 2022.