Sara Duterte, party back enforcement of Cayetano-Velasco term-sharing deal

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and her political party have backed the enforcement of the speakership term-sharing deal between Speaker Alan Cayetano and Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco.

Mayor Duterte, daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte, issued the statement after her Friday meeting with Velasco where she said they discussed Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP), a political party she leads.

“Congressman Velasco came to Davao City to personally meet me and discuss Hugpong Ng Pagbabago. He intimated that there will be a Speakership vote and he sought for my help, as the Chairperson of HNP, with regard to the votes of the three HNP Congressmen from Davao Region,” she said in a statement on Monday.

“HNP will respect the term-sharing agreement as ordered by the President last year and reiterated that the party fully supports Presidential Proclamation 1027,” she added, referring to her father’s call for a special session of the House of Representatives starting October 13.

President Duterte made the call after Cayetano moved to approve the proposed P4.5-trillion budget for 2021 on second reading last October 6 and suspend session afterward, leaving the proposed budget of at least 18 agencies out of deliberations and extending his Speakership tenure in the process.

HNP, Sara said, was created to propel unity and development in Davao Region and assist the administration of her father.

Majority of the House members in favor of Velasco replacing Cayetano as Speaker are gathered on Monday in Quezon City and are expected to hold session and formalize Velasco’s election as Speaker. —KBK, GMA News