Mace at pro-Velasco gathering ‘not official’ — House Sergeant-at-Arms

The Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives on Monday said the mace displayed at the gathering of supporters of Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco in an events place in Quezon City is not the official mace of the chamber.

"I am in custody of the official mace of the House of Representatives. That is not the Official mace," said retired police deputy director general Ramon Apolinario.

In a separate statement to reporters, House Secretary General Jose Luis Montales said the four historical maces of the chamber, as well as the one being used currently, are with the House Sergeant at Arms.

"The Archives and Museum Management Service of the House of Representatives has, as part of it collection, the four historical maces of the House of Representatives: replica of the mace used by Speaker Sergio Osmeña during the First Philippine National Assembly; the original mace of the Interim Batasang Pambansa; the original mace of the Regular Batasang Pambansa; and the House of Representatives mace used from the 8th Congress (1987) to the 16th Congress (2016)," he said.

"These four maces and the current mace of the House of Representatives are the only official maces of the House of Representatives and they are all currently in the custody of the House Sergeant-at-Arms," he added.

House Sgt at Arms Ramon Apolinario says the mace at the Celebrity Sports Plaza where supporters of Cong. Lord Velasco are gathering, is not official.

Apolinario: I am in custody of the official mace of the House of Representatives...That is not the Official mace.

???? @DarleneCay pic.twitter.com/YLLUuhGOfy

— Victoria Tulad (@victoriatulad) October 12, 2020

According to the website of the House, the mace is "a symbol of authority" at the chamber, placed at the foot of the Speaker's rostrum when the House is in session.

"It serves as the warrant for the Sergeant-at-Arms in enforcing order in the House upon instruction of the Speaker," it added.

Supporters of Velasco will gather at an events place in Quezon City this morning after calling to assemble in a manifesto and elect the Marinduque lawmaker as speaker.

According to the manifesto, a total of 187 lawmakers will come together to declare the seat of the House Speaker vacant and elect Velasco as the new leader of the House.

"In accordance with Section 13, Rule 3 of the Rules of the House of Representatives, of the 18th Congress, we call to assemble, move to and cast our vote to declare the position of Speaker VACANT on Monday, October 12, 2020," the manifesto read.

"Further, also in accordance with the same Section, we will move to and cast our vote to declare Representative Lord Allan Velasco of Marinduque as Speaker of the House of Representatives of the 18th Congress," it added.

Valenzuela City Representative Eric Martinez, who is one of the lawmakers going to the events place this morning, has yet to confirm if the election of Velasco will take place there or at the Batasang Pambansa complex.

On Sunday, allies of Cayetano called on the Velasco camp to focus on the budget first and set aside politics.

"We hope and appeal to the members na huwag na nilang guluhin ang procedure. Isantabi muna nila ang gusto nilang panggugulo. Gawin na lang yan after the budget," Deputy Speaker Luis Raymund Villafuerte said in a virtual press conference on Sunday.

Majority Leader Ferdinand Romualdez also said that the speakership issue will be tackled after the House approves the budget. — RSJ, GMA News