Nacionalista party, NUP back Cayetano amid coup rumors —Barzaga

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano has the support of lawmakers from the Nacionalista Party (NP) and the National Unity Party (NUP) amid the reports of an ouster plot against him, NUP president Cavite Representative Elpidio Barzaga said Tuesday.

Barzaga made the remark after Cayetano met with members of the two political parties on Monday evening.

In an interview with reporters, Barzaga said Cayetano asked them about their position amid the recent developments in the House, especially on the matter of the speakership.

"We answered politely and truthfully that the NUP is behind him. Yung Nacionalista Party naman, speaking through Deputy Speaker [Raneo] Abu, suportado rin si Speaker," he said.

"And even Lakas, yung si Majority Floor Leader Martin Romualdez," he added.

Cayetano earlier alleged that Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco, a PDP-Laban member, was working to have him removed from his post by offering leadership posts to lawmakers and assuring them of extra budgetary allocations for their districts.

Velasco has denied the allegation.

Velasco is set to assume Cayetano's position in October in accordance with their "15-21" term-sharing agreement brokered by President Rodrigo Duterte at the beginning of the 18th Congress.

But as far as Barzaga is concerned, a coup d'etat in the House of Representatives is far from happening.

"I don't think there will be a coup or there will be a change in leadership hanggang hindi natatapos yung 15-21 agreement. So that is one thing which I am sure about. I think that is certain. So we have to continue with our legislative work, he said.

He said that changing the leadership in the House is a tough thing to do, considering that there are about 300 members in the chamber who have their own bets.

"It's very hard to control them unlike in the Senate where there are only 24 members. Kaya sa Senate, yung power bloc na limang senators, they can dictate who will be the Senate President, but in the House it is impossible because we have 300 members. A power bloc would not be sufficient to create the position of Speaker," Barzaga said.

PDP-Laban spokesperson Deputy Speaker Johnny Pimentel, who is part of Velasco’s camp, has said the party has no knowledge of any coup attempt against Cayetano, and that they will not take part in one.

He even said they are willing to sign a manifesto to prove their continued support for the Speaker. — BM, GMA News