Cayetano, Velasco camps at odds over what took place in meeting with Duterte

The camps of Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco on Wednesday remained at odds even after their meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte the previous night.

Oriental Mindoro Representative Doy Leachon said both camps agreed that Velasco will sit as Speaker starting October 14 as provided under the term-sharing agreement reached 15 months ago that Duterte himself brokered.

Deputy Speaker LRay Villafuerte, however, said that Velasco still cannot claim victory unless the majority of House members move to declare the position of Speaker vacant and elect a new one as provided by House Rules.

“Clearly, the position of the President is to enforce. Huwag na pasakitin ang ulo ng pangulo, and that is what we expect: the enforcement of the agreement brokered 15 months ago by no less than the President. The question only is as to when and both parties agreed, on the presence of the President, on October 14,” Leachon said in an  interview on ANC.

Villafuerte, however, disputed this.

“Ang sinabi ni President, he will let Alan speak first on what happened. Wala pang two minutes, nagkaroon na ng date, October 14. Wala naman sinabi eh. I am 100% sure na hindi sinabi ‘yun,” Villafuerte said in the same ANC interview.

While there is an existing agreement, at least 202 lawmakers signed a manifesto supporting Cayetano’s continued tenure as Speaker.

Leachon, however, said that such a number is not final unless a vote is taken.

“There are over 300 votes in Congress,” he said. —KBK, GMA News