Velasco hopes for ‘peaceful transition’ of House leadership

“With this compelling proof that has installed me as Speaker of the House, I would like to extend my hand to Speaker Cayetano and hope that he would be amenable to sit down with me as we comply with the agreement for a peaceful transition for the benefit of our members and the country,” Velasco said. (File Photo: Lord Allan Jay Velasco/Facebook)

MANILA – Newly-installed Speaker Lord Allan Velasco on Monday expressed hope for a “peaceful transition” of the speakership of the House of Representatives.

In a speech after being elected as Speaker by 186 lawmakers during a remote session at the Celebrity Sports Plaza in Quezon City, Velasco said he would like to extend his hand and sit down with Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano as they comply with the 15-21 term-sharing agreement brokered by President Rodrigo Duterte at the start of the 18th Congress in July last year.

“With this compelling proof that has installed me as Speaker of the House, I would like to extend my hand to Speaker Cayetano and hope that he would be amenable to sit down with me as we comply with the agreement for a peaceful transition for the benefit of our members and the country,” Velasco said.

Velasco said he wanted to become Speaker in response to the “call of service”, even as the country grapples with the coronavirus disease (Covid-19 pandemic).

“The true measure of leadership comes not when things are easy, but especially when things are most difficult. Whether famine or feast, poverty or plenty, a leader will always rise to the challenge and respond to the call of service,” he said. “It has been a difficult journey to get to where we are, one fraught with many frustrations and complications, but then we are all here, and this is a testament to our indomitable spirit and our collective commitment to honoring our word.”

Velasco said the House, under his leadership, would continue to support President Rodrigo Duterte’s legislative agenda and contribute to the “shining legacy that the Duterte administration will leave behind”.

He also vowed to pass laws that are responsive to the needs of Filipinos, as well as the passage of the proposed PHP4.5-trillion national budget for 2021.

“We commit to pass laws that are responsive to the needs of our fellow Filipinos here and abroad, laws focused on jobs, the economy, healthcare, food on the table, peace, and order, and clean and sustainable energy. And most of all, today’s events would ensure that the President’s call for a timely, legal and constitutional approval of the 2021 budget will be complied with,” he said.

He thanked the President, as well as Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, Deputy Speaker Paolo Duterte, and Senator Bong Go for their support.

“Higit sa lahat, ako’y nagpapasalamat sa ating mahal na Pangulo, — a man of his word — may isang salita, sa mabuting halimbawa and for inspiring young government servants like me na hindi hadlang ang pagiging probinsyano para tayo ay makapag serbisyo (Most importantly, I’d like to thank our beloved President — a man of his word — for being a good example and for inspiring young government servants like me that being someone from the province should not be a hindrance to serve [the public]),” he said. “That a young probinsyano congressman from a small province like Marinduque can be elected Speaker of the House of Representatives… this can only happen in the age of Duterte when anything is possible for the benefit of the Filipino people.”

‘Fake’ session

Cayetano, however, slammed the session held by lawmakers outside the Batasang Pambansa complex as “fake”.

“Ang purpose nila, manggulo (Their purpose is to cause disruption). The last time I checked, ang Celebrity Sports Club ay hindi Kongreso (the Celebrity Sports Club is not Congress). They are throwing the Constitution to waste. Fake session ang ginagawa nila (They held a fake session),” Cayetano said in a press conference at the same time the pro-Velasco lawmakers held their remote session.

Cayetano’s camp also released a copy of a manifesto signed by a total of 200 House members showing their support for him amid alleged ouster moves by the Velasco camp.

“Following the President’s call for the individual members of the House of Representatives to vote freely and without reservation on who we wish to lead this chamber, we the undersigned hereby manifest our full and unequivocal support for the continued leadership of Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano,” the lawmakers said in the manifesto.

In signing the manifesto, the 200 lawmakers said they were declaring their “common desire to heed the call of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and the entire nation” for the swift passage of the proposed 2021 national budget.

“We likewise join the call of Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and the leadership of the House of Representatives for unity and cooperation among our colleagues in all priority legislation that are in line with the efforts of the Duterte administration in combating the Covid-19 pandemic and providing a safe, prosperous, and comfortable life for all,” they said.

The lawmakers said they believe Cayetano’s resignation as Speaker on Sept. 30 had in effect rendered the term-sharing agreement between him and Velasco “moot and academic” as the majority had already spoken.

“We, therefore, call on Congressman Velasco to respect the collective desire of his peers to allow the continuation of Speaker Cayetano’s exemplary leadership,” they said.

They also reaffirmed their commitment to the people “to do what is right and stand up for the honor” not just of Cayetano but the entire House.

“We forge this agreement with you, our fellow citizens, to uphold your best interest against the pressures of partisan politics and personal interests,” they said.

Another manifesto circulated to the media, wherein 187 lawmakers have called to assemble, declare the speakership post vacant, and elect Velasco as the House’s next top leader.

“In accordance with Section 13, Rule 3 of the Rules of the House of Representatives, of the 18th Congress, we call to assemble, move to and cast our vote to declare the position of Speaker VACANT on Monday, October 12, 2020,” the manifesto read. “Further, also in accordance with the same section, we will move to and cast our vote to declare Representative Lord Allan Velasco of Marinduque as Speaker of the House of Representatives of the 18th Congress.”

The lawmakers slammed the move of the House leadership to “unceremoniously” terminate the budget deliberations and approve the 2021 General Appropriations Bill on second reading on Oct. 6.

“The current House leadership deprived the Filipino people of exercising, through their duly-elected Representatives, their right to participate in crafting a national budget that would best serve the country,” they said. “The House members were stripped of their legislative duty to scrutinize the spending plan of various important agencies.”

The lawmakers pointed out that the creation of a “small committee” that will accept alterations to the budget is an “invalid delegation” that effectively railroads and replaces the important budget process, which consists of sponsorship, debate, and amendments.