PDP-Laban won't take part in ‘unfounded’ ouster plot vs. Cayetano –solon

PDP-Laban stalwart Deputy Speaker Johnny Pimentel on Sunday insisted that there were no moves to oust Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano from his post at the House of Representatives.

"As far as PDP-Laban is concerned, being their spokesperson, I can categorically say na wala talagang nangyayaring kudeta. I think it is baseless and unfounded," Pimentel said in a Dobol B sa News TV interview aired on GMA News TV.

"In fact, we already released a statement that we do not have any knowledge of this supposed ouster plan or coup d'etat and we will not participate if ever there is a plan."

Cayetano alleged that Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco was working to have him removed from his post at the chamber by offering leadership posts to lawmakers and assuring them of budgetary allocations for their districts.

He claimed that there were at least 20 congressmen who told him that Velasco had made the offer.

Velasco, who is from PDP-Laban, would take over as speaker by October in accordance with his and Cayetano's "15-21" term-sharing agreement brokered by President Rodrigo Duterte at the beginning of the 18th Congress.

However, Pimentel pointed out that it made no sense for Velasco to plot against Cayetano as the former need only wait seven months before assuming the speakership under the term-sharing deal.

"Meron nang pinag-usapan na term-sharing agreement, and according to Cong. Lord Velasco, and that is also the stand of PDP-Laban, that we will honor the term-sharing agreement," Pimentel said.

"Kasi it is useless, non-sense kung gagawa pa tayo ng kudeta e pipitong buwan na lang. Sabi nga ni Cong. Lord Velasco, bakit pa tayo gagawa nun?" he added.

Pimentel also argued that the supposed ouster plan would bring division to the House of Representatives, which he said was not what PDP-Laban lawmakers wanted considering that pending legislation they needed to pass.

"We in PDP-Laban, gusto natin may katahimikan diyan sa Kongreso because there are a lot of things that need to be done. Nandiyan pa yung prangkisa ng ABS-CBN, nandiyan pa yung constitutional amendments. There are so many bills that needs urgency, tapos gagawa tayo ng ganito?" he said.

Pimentel thus urged the supposed 20 congressmen to openly speak on Cayetano's allegations.

"Basta kami sa PDP-Laban, we will not be a part of any plan to oust Speaker Cayetano. In fact, we are committed to support our Speaker Cayetano during his incumbency as Speaker and we will support all the plans and programs of Speaker Cayetano for Congress especially in support of the legislative agenda of the President," he added. — Erwin Colcol/DVM, GMA News