Pro-Velasco solons elect House SecGen, Sergeant-at-Arms

Supporters of Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco on Monday elected a "new" Secretary General and Sergeant of Arms of the House of Representatives.

In a gathering of pro-Velasco congressmen in Quezon, Atty. Jocelia Bighani-Sipin was elected as Secretary General of the chamber.

Meanwhile, retired Police Major General Mao Aplasca was installed Sergeant of Arms.

Sipin and Aplasca have been elected to the positions being held by Atty. Jose Luis Montales and retired Police Deputy Director General Ramon Apolinario, respectively.

Prior to the conduct of the gathering and the election, the lawmakers issued a manifesto calling to assemble on Monday and declare the seat of the House Speaker vacant.

"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.

However, Deputy Speaker Neptali Gonzales II on Monday called the gathering an "illegal session" as they have no authority from the plenary to hold the event. —KBK, GMA News