Cayetano to honor term-sharing deal, but can’t speak for ‘majority’ who wants him to stay — Villafuerte

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano has assured President Rodrigo Duterte that he will honor the term-sharing agreement between him and Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco, but he could not speak for the "majority" of congressmen who want him to stay.

Deputy Speaker Luis Raymund Villafuerte made such a remark following their meeting with the President on Tuesday evening to sort out the House speakership issue.

In an interview with reporters on Wednesday, Villafuerte said Cayetano made it clear that he would honor the term-sharing deal that the President himself brokered around 14 months ago.

"Speaker Alan clearly made it clear through his statement that he will honor the agreement and he also said, sabi niya 'Mr. President I will resign anytime. However, I cannot speak for my supporters in the majority who signed.' So that was clear," he said.

"Then the President asked us to speak. I said, 'Mr. President, we will honor the agreement. We will follow what you want as leader of the party. However, we appeal na sana let members of Congress decide despite the fact na may agreement kasi napakaganda naman ng trust rating ng Congress," he added.

Reports surfaced on Tuesday night that following the meeting with the President, Velasco would assume the speakership by October 14.

But Villafuerte insisted there was no date agreed upon.

"Wala namang date na napag-usapan, dahil ang term-sharing talaga, kung bibilangin natin July 22 nag-assume si Speaker during SONA, so dapat technically October 22, not today, not yesterday, not tomorrow. So walang napag-usapan na date," he said.

He even said that it was Cayetano he would announce publicly the result of the meeting, but he was surprised that a few minutes after they left Malacañang that reports of Velasco's assumption to the speakership came out.

"Sabi ni Presidente, the agreement was let Speaker Alan announce to the public today [Wednesday] what transpired. So clearly, Cong. Lord Velasco broke the agreement," he said.

October 14

Contrary to Villafuerte's statement, Oriental Mindoro Representative Salvador Leachon, who is part of Velasco's camp, said the October 14 date was agreed upon before the President himself.

"Sabi niya (Velasco), there was haggle as to the time. But then they both agreed to be October 14, confirming the earlier news that broke out already," Leachon said in a separate interview with reporters.

"When they finally agreed that the time would be on October 14, that was made in the presence of the President," he added.

According to Leachon, the October 14 date was decided because it was the last day of session before Congress goes on a month-long break.

"If anything or [there are] other concerns [that] can be threshed out, it can be done while Congress is not in session. So that by the time that the session starts some time in mid-November, all things will be in order already," he said.

At the same time, they wanted to finish first the deliberation on the proposed 2021 national budget, which the House targets to finish by October 14, Leachon said.

"Sabi nga namin nun, it was our proposition that regardless of the change in leadership, the budget will be passed at some definite time," he said.

"And it was the commitment and guarantee of Cong. Lord Velasco that in case he will be assuming the speakership, it will be approved on time, especially so because the change will only be on the speakership, not on the Committee on Appropriations," he added.

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. — RSJ, GMA News