Duterte should tell Cayetano, Velasco to honor term-sharing deal —solon

Buhay party-list Representative Lito Atienza is hoping that President Rodrigo Duterte will tell Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco to honor the term-sharing agreement the chief executive himself brokered 14 months ago.

Atienza made the remark on Tuesday ahead of the expected meeting of the two lawmakers with the President later in the day amid the lingering issue on the House speakership.

"The President was the witness in forging that agreement. He was the third man, and he is the best man now to tell both parties: 'You better follow your commitment. You gave your word of honor. Sabi niyo usapang lalaki 'yan, nagkamay kayo, tuparin niyo,'" Atienza told reporters in an interview.

"Knowing the President and his word of honor, I would hope that he now tells both parties, 'You honor your commitment. Anybody who breaks his commitment, huwag kayong haharap sa akin.' Dito ko makikita ang character ni Presidente," he added.

Cayetano and Velasco are set to meet with the President at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, accompanied by their respective supporters from the chamber.

The meeting will take place after a manifesto of support for Cayetano surfaced, reportedly signed by over 200 members of the House including leaders and representatives of various blocs and political parties.

But Atienza said the manifesto of support is "immaterial" as there is an existing agreement between Cayetano and Velasco.

"An agreement is an agreement, a contract is a contract. There are provisions that you agreed on and no provision can just come in after the first term is through. That's non sequitur," he said.

He said that before the 18th Congress began last year, Cayetano "had no numbers."

"Paano naman at the end of your term, sasabihin mo 'I have to 200 now asking me to continue.' It's for him (Cayetano) to say, 'I cannot do that, gentlemen, because I gave my word,'" he added.

What Cayetano can do for now is to "set the tone" in the House and show that they are "honorable" in Congress.

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. —KG, GMA News