Cayetano accuses Velasco, camp of being behind House 'coup plot'

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano has accused Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco and his supporters of being behind the supposed coup plot being hatched against him.

In a radio interview on Monday, Cayetano alleged that Velasco and his camp were actually expecting that a motion to declare the Speaker and Deputy Speaker positions vacant would be made during the day's session.

"Yun po ang inaasahan sana ng grupo ni Cong. Velasco at ‘yung ilan niyang mga kakampi, ‘yung umiikot para kumuha ng numero," he said.

"From their side, gusto nila, gentleman’s agreement daw, sumunod ako. Pero I think, pangatlo, pang-apat na coup attempt na nila ‘to e. Tingin ata nila na padamihan ng attempt at, finally, kapag maraming attempt, makukuha nila," he added.

Both Cayetano and Velasco have a standing term-sharing agreement in which the former would hold the speakership for 15 months and the latter would take over to finish the next 21 months.

The agreement was brokered by no less than President Rodrigo Duterte at the start of the 18th Congress in July last year.

But Cayetano insisted that Velasco was behind the supposed plot to remove him from his post not only in this instance, but even "from the start," despite the existing term-sharing deal.

"Even Day One, nung i-elect ako na Speaker, na galing na kami kay Pangulo at maayos na usapan namin, nag-organize pa sila ng breakfast at gusto nilang i-upo si Sid Ungab," he said, referring to Davao City Representative Isidro Ungab.

"After that, na alam niyo naman ‘yung nangyari kay Chairman Sid Ungab, pinapalitan po ang mga desisyon ko. At kasama din po si Congressman Velasco diyan. Nabuko na po sila several times," he added.

Cayetano also claimed that Velasco had said that he would assume the speakership by October 14.

"I mean, I’m… hindi ako paikot-ikot. He’s been involved and he’s involved in the intrigue sa Congress. So, ang usapan namin, during my time, suportahan niya ‘ko. During his time, suportahan ko siya. Pero hindi talaga ako nakatikim ng suporta sa kanya e," he said.

At the same time, Cayetano also slammed Velasco for reportedly having a new leadership team that is ready to take over the positions at the chamber.

"Ang usapan namin ang magpapalit kami lang. At worse, pati ‘yung Committee on Accounts. Hindi magpapalit ‘yung iba kasi ayaw natin maantala ‘yung programa ng gobyerno, lalo po ngayon, COVID ngayon. We cannot afford one day of vacuum or walang leadership sa Kongreso," he said.

Cayetano admitted that while he loves his current position, he would rather focus on the budget deliberations for now.

"Any talks about the leadership, about change, maapektuhan ang budget. Ayoko po na ‘yung budget, mahalo sa pulitika. Gusto ko pong matapos lang muna ang usapin," he said.

In any case, Cayetano said he will seek Duterte's advice by November regarding the speakership issue.

"Ang usapan naman, ako, I told the President I will go to him when it comes to November. I will seek his guidance as head of the coalition, then we will see what will happen," he said.

"Wala naman akong sinasabing may pagbabago sa usapan, pero wala rin akong nakikitang pagbabago kay Congressman Velasco na maging gentleman din at sumunod din sa aming usapan," he added.

GMA News Online has reached out to Velasco for comment, but he has yet to respond as of posting time. —KBK, GMA News