House rejects Cayetano’s offer of resignation

A total of 184 lawmakers voted to reject Cayetano’s resignation, one voted to accept, while nine abstained from voting. (File Photo: House of Representatives of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA – The House of Representatives on Wednesday formally rejected Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano’s offer of resignation as Speaker.

A total of 184 lawmakers voted to reject Cayetano’s resignation, one voted to accept, while nine abstained from voting.

The nominal voting came after Cayetano offered to step down in a speech before fellow lawmakers amid the speakership row stemming from a 15-21 term-sharing deal with Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco.

“I’m offering my resignation, here and now, to you my dear colleagues. My fate and the fate of the 2021 budget, and the fate of the leadership of the House is in your hands,” Cayetano said.

Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor moved to deny Cayetano’s offer to resign, and the House plenary approved the motion through voice voting.

A nominal voting was further done to “remove doubts” regarding the plenary’s decision.

On Tuesday night, President Rodrigo Duterte met with Cayetano and Velasco to settle the House speakership issue hounding the chamber amid the ongoing budget deliberations.

According to reports, Velasco will take over the speakership post starting October 14 based on the original term-sharing agreement that was brokered by Duterte at the start of the 18th Congress in July last year.

Under the term-sharing deal, Cayetano would serve as 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.