House majority, minority heads, political party reps back Cayetano amid power row

Leaders from both the majority and minority blocs of the House of Representatives, as well as several deputy speakers, have declared their support for Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano amid the speakership issue at the chamber.

A total of 26 lawmakers holding key positions at the House have affixed their signature to a manifesto of support for Cayetano, a copy of which was released to the media on Sunday.

But Deputy Speaker Dan Fernandez, who is among the signatories, said in an interview with reporters on Monday that at least 202 House members have already signed the manifesto.

The legislators manifested their commitment to continue the deliberations on the 2021 national budget in a transparent manner and for the interest of the Filipino people, despite the "threat" to derail its smooth and immediate passage.

"This commitment to pass a pro-People budget for 2021 follows the vision of Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, whose guidance of the House of the past 13 months has been invaluable in the passage of numerous landmark bills including the 2020 General Appropriations Act, which was passed in record time and without any pork, parked funds, or corruption," they said.

"In these trying times, as the nation is being wracked by an unprecedented public health and economic crisis brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, we reiterate our continued full and unequivocal support for Speaker Cayetano and the entire leadership of the House, and join the President in his desire to allow the membership to chart its own course in choosing those who would lead this chamber," they added.

Aside from Fernandez, signatories of the manifesto include Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, Minority Leader Bienvenido Abante Jr., Cavite Representative Elpidio Barzaga Jr. and Deputy Speaker Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. of the National Unity Party, Pampanga Representative Mikey Arroyo of LAKAS-CMD.

Notably, Deputy Speakers Aurelio Gonzales and Johnny Pimentel, partymates of Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco at PDP-Laban, also signed the manifesto.

Representatives Kit Belmonte and Stella Luz Quimbo of the Liberal Party also affixed their signatures, as well as leaders and representatives of the Northern Alliance, Southern Luzon Alliance, and Visayan and Mindanao Blocks at the House.

Apart from this manifesto, a list of 202 of the nearly 300 House members supporting Cayetano also surfaced. Fernandez also confirmed the list to GMA News Online.

On Sunday, the House minority bloc issued their own manifesto of support for Cayetano.

Under the term-sharing agreement, Cayetano is expected to hold the speakership for 15 months and Velasco would take over to finish the next 21 months. 

Last week, Velasco broke his silence on the issue of the term-sharing agreement with Cayetano, saying that although he had not been making comments on the matter, it did not mean that he was already disinterested or turned his back on the deal.

'Betrayal'

Fernandez on Monday also accused Velasco of "betraying" the term-sharing agreement with Cayetano when he supposedly attempted to oust the latter despite their standing deal.

The deputy speaker claimed in a virtual interview with reporters that Velasco and his camp had tried to remove Cayetano from his position twice already, even as he is expected to take over the speakership by next month.

"Ngayon nga kasi, parang nagkaroon kasi ng betrayal. Si Speaker naman, he will follow the agreement. Unfortunately, twice na nangyari itong attempt. Remember nu'ng isang beses nangyari na 'yan. Ngayon, ito na naman," he said.

"Ang mabigat, budget hearing. Ito 'yung budget ng buong Pilipinas, budget ngayong pandemic, tapos guguluhin mo. E 'di siyempre magkakaroon ng problem. Even the President will not trust us anymore kasi nga he wanted to pass this budget expeditiously para naman maibigay natin 'yung serbisyo sa ating mamamayan," he added.

Fernandez said Velasco's camp wanted Cayetano to "look bad on the eyes of the President."

"Kaya ngayon, parang si Speaker, ano ba naman 'yan, nu'ng una medyo mapapatawad niya. Pero ito second attempt na, parang.... wow," he added.

In signing the manifesto, Fernandez said he and his fellow lawmakers are asserting their mandate to the people, and that they would not allow a term-sharing to push through.

"Lahat ng angle ng pagseserbisyo ay may experience si Speaker. And that's 
the reason why 'yung pag-aapprove natin ng budget and different measures in Congress ay nafa-fast-track kasi meron siyang relationship in different branches of the government," he said.

"So that is the reason why we wanted to assert our mandate. If ever magkakaroon ng vacancy, we will vote doon sa gusto namin. And this time, we don't want to change the leadership," he added.

Fernandez also said he and his colleagues signed the manifesto because they want to continue Cayetano's vision for the House of Representatives.

"Kaming mga congressman, we decided to put this manifesto of support kasi we know our objective e, the transfer of knowledge of the Speaker to all of us. So baka tayo ay maligaw kung sakali na magkaroon tayo ng changing of guards," he said.

Velasco has yet to make a statement regarding accusations that he and his camp attempted to oust Cayetano. —KG/NB, GMA News