Solon accuses Lord Velasco of doing 'nothing' over past 15 months

A senior member of the House of Representatives on Tuesday accused Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco of doing nothing over the past 15 months and expecting to take over the helm of the chamber as a matter of right.

In a privilege speech, Capiz Representative Fredenil Castro also charged Velasco and his camp for allegedly sowing intrigue and causing disorder at the House of Representatives in a supposed plot to oust Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano.

Castro said that when Velasco failed to achieve the speakership, he should have used his time and effort to prove that he was worthy of becoming their next leader.

"But instead of being the leader that he said he was, Congressman Velasco showed his true self. He did not work, he did not contribute, he did not defend this House, he did not lead. So why expect us to follow him?" said Castro, a former majority leader.

"It was his mistake to think that he could just do nothing in 15 months and then just one day appear in Congress to claim the speakership as if it was his birthright," he added.

GMA News Online sought Velasco's comment but has yet to receive any as of posting time.

Cayetano and Velasco reached a gentleman's agreement in 2019 that the former would serve as speaker for 15 months while the latter would take over in the remaining time of the present Congress.

Both Cayetano and Velasco are allies of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Castro said Velasco must be reminded that the Speaker was "primus interpares" or the "first among equals." He said the Marinduque lawmaker could not claim to be first "when he's not even an equal of many of those who are here today."

"He is not equal in their work and contribution to the success of this chamber. He is not equal in dedication to the people. He is not equal in treating his colleagues with respect. So how can he ever expect to be first among us?" Castro said.

"May nakahanda na raw silang tagapamahala na koponan na papalit sa mga kasamahan natin na ilang buwang naghihirap at patuloy na naghihirap para sa bayan. Handa daw sila at naniniwala sila na magiging maayos ang palitan ng liderato ng Mababang Kapulungan. Ano kayo? Kayo ba ang tinaguriang sinuswerte?" he added.

"Paano sila naging handa kung hindi man lang sila, kahit minsan, nakipag-ugnayan o nagtangkang makipag-ugnayan sa kasalukuyang liderato upang mapag-usapan ang kanilang ipinagmamalaking kahandaan?" he added.

"Paano magkakaroon ng maayos at matiwasay na paglipat ng liderato kung ang balak ay sirain ang maayos na takbo ng Mababang Kapulungan?" he continued.

According to Castro, the term-sharing agreement only involves the speakership post and chairmanship of the Committee on Accounts. This is so, because they wanted a smooth transition for these positions.

"To me, this will never happen if they attempt to remove all the chairmen and deputy speakers in order to replace them with their own people," he said.

"Huwag sana tayong maging brutal at masyadong halata. Sinabi nila na sila ay marangal at susunod sa usapan. Paano kami maniniwala sapagkat walang humpay ang kanilang panggugulo at paninira simula nang nagbukas ang 18th Congress?" he added.

Further, Castro also hit Velasco for allegedly wanting to take the speakership post from Cayetano when he himself has supposedly failed to cooperate in the affairs of the House.

He recalled that Cayetano had asked Velasco to be the senior deputy speaker of the chamber, yet the latter refused the offer and instead chose to remain the chairman of the Committee on Energy.

"The Speaker also took pains to accommodate your own political allies to be part of the leadership --- an opportunity which neither offered nor given to others. But miserably, you reciprocated this goodness and offer of unity with intrigues and discord among our ranks," he added. -NB, GMA News