PDP-Laban president Koko Pimentel won't dip finger into House speakership row

Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan president and Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III on Wednesday declined to give his opinion on the suspension of session in the House ahead of the anticipated change of leadership date.

"Sorry, I would rather not make any comment because I also happen to be a member of the Senate," Pimentel said in response to the query of GMA News Online, invoking inter-parliamentary courtesy.

"Regarding speakership issue, please direct all questions to Rep. Lord Velasco, the party head in the House of Representatives," he added.

On Tuesday, House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano moved to end the period of debates for the budget bill and pass it on second reading. The House also suspended session until November 16.

The development came with alarm to some Senate leaders who said they were hoping the budget bill would be approved by the House before the Congressional break next week, "as promised," to avoid having a re-enacted budget.

All these transpired amid the House speakership issue between Cayetano and Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco who had a term-sharing deal in 2019.

Under the gentleman's agreement, Cayetano would be at the helm of the House for the first 15 months while Velasco would take care of the next 21. The latter is firm in his resolve that he should take over as House speaker on October 14.

But with a suspended session, there will be no venue for a formal turnover of power.

Pimentel and Velasco both belong to PDP-Laban, the political party which President Rodrigo Duterte chairs.

Cayetano, on the other hand, comes from the Nacionalista Party but he was the running mate of Duterte in the 2016 elections.

Back in 2016, Pimentel and Cayetano—both key allies of Duterte—also vied for the Senate presidency.

Duterte had said he wouldn’t meddle in the Senate leadership race and even advised the two to “fight it out.” In the end, Duterte’s party-mate Pimentel prevailed. —KG, GMA News