Duterte could lose credibility if Cayetano, Velasco term-sharing deal fails —solon

President Rodrigo Duterte could lose "a lot of credibility" if the term-sharing agreement he brokered between Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco will not push through.

Buhay party-list Representative Lito Atienza made the remark on Tuesday ahead of the meeting of Cayetano and Velasco with Duterte amid the lingering speakership issue at the House of Representatives.

"Palagay ko a lot of credibility will be lost," Atienza told reporters in an interview when asked what could happen if the term-sharing deal would not be enforced.

"Kapag may sinabi si Presidente next time, people will be raising their eyebrows. 'Totoo ba yan? Paninindigan mo ba yan?'" he added.

Atienza insisted that the President tell Cayetano and Velasco to "honor" the term-sharing agreement.

"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,'" he said.

"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.

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.

Reliable sources told GMA News Online that Majority Leader Martin Romualdez and Deputy Speaker Luis Raymund Villafuerte will accompany Cayetano during the meeting.

Bulacan Representative Jonathan Sy-Alvarado also confirmed to GMA News that he will join Cayetano.

Meanwhile, PDP-Laban executive director Ron Munsayac said Velasco will be with his "most trusted team" in his meeting with Cayetano and the President.

This includes Deputy Speakers Mikee Romero and Johnny Pimentel, Ilocos Sur Representative Kristine Singson-Meehan from the Northern Alliance, and AAMBIS-OWA party-list Representative Sharon Garin of the Party-list Coalition.

Also accompanying Velasco are Abang Lingkod party-list Representative Joseph Stephen Paduano from the Visayan Bloc, Quezon Representative Mark Enverga and Rizal Representative Jack Duavit from the Nationalist People's Coalition, and Oriental Mindoro Representative Salvador Leachon from PDP-Laban.

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. —LDF, GMA News