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Pro-Velasco solons gather in Quezon City

Members of the House of Representatives allied with Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco gathered in Quezon City to elect him as head of the chamber amid the speakership row with Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano.

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

Oriental Mindoro Representative Salvador Leachon sent the manifesto to reporters early Monday morning. It was confirmed by Cagayan De Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez, Valenzuela City Representative Eric Martinez and Albay Representative Joey Salceda to GMA News Online.

The meeting pushed through even as the House was not in session. The chamber earlier suspended the session until November 16, in what some say is a move for Cayetano to preempt the expected speakership turnover on October 14 in accordance with a term-sharing deal he hatched with Velasco last year. —KBK, GMA News