Allies 'elect' Velasco as House Speaker

Allies of Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco on Monday "elected" him as Speaker of the House of Representatives in a session described by the camp of Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano as illegal.

A total of 186 lawmakers voted to elect Velasco, well above the required majority of 299 House members needed to elect a new Speaker.

The election took place in an events place in Quezon City as the House Plenary Session is currently closed due to the suspension of the session until November 16.

But few hours after Velasco's purported election,  the camp of Cayetano released a "manifesto" of support for him, supposedly signed by a total of 200 lawmakers.

“Following the President’s call for the individual members of the House of Representatives to vote freely and without reservation on who we wish to lead this chamber, we the undersigned hereby manifest our full and unequivocal support for the continued leadership of Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano," read the manifesto issued by Cayetano's office.

The House lists 299 current members.

In electing Velasco to the speakership, 186 lawmakers also voted to accept the motion of Buhay party-list Representative Lito Atienza to declare the position of Speaker vacant. The post is currently held by Taguig-Pateros Representative Alan Peter Cayetano.

Former Deputy Speaker Mikee Romero, Rizal Representative Michael John "Jack" Duavit, Oriental Mindoro Representative Salvador Leachon, Ilocos Sur Representative Kristine Singsong-Meehan, Negros Occidental Representative Kiko Benitez, Zamboanga Del Sur Representative Divina Grace Yu, Navotas City Representative John Reynald Tiangco, Albay Representative Joey Salceda, and Maguindanao Representative Esmael Mangudadatu formally nominated Velasco to the speakership.

Deputy Speaker Conrado Estrella III presided over the session, while Pampanga Representative Juan Pablo "Rimpy" Bondoc served as majority floor leader.

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.

Fake session

In a news conference, Cayetano described Velasco's "election" as Speaker as fake as it was conducted illegally outside Batasang Pambansa.

“Ang purpose nila, manggulo. The last time I checked, ang Celebrity Sports Club ay hindi Kongreso. They are throwing the Constitution to waste. Fake session ang ginagawa nila," Cayetano said.

“This is a very disturbing precedent. Sabi nila, basta may quorum. Basta may quorum, they can meet any day and anywhere and do whatever they want? Kung valid 'yan, banana republic na tayo,” he added.

Deputy Speaker Neptali Gonzales II earlier in the day likewise called the gathering an "illegal session" as Velasco's supporters supposedly have no authority from the plenary to hold the event.

He said the sessions of the House are suspended until November 16 and "there is no authority from Plenary to reconvene today."

"Unlike in the Batangas session, there is no plenary Resolution authorizing to hold session in any other place other than in the Plenary in Batasan, contrary to the Constitution," he added.

At the same time, Gonzales said that the maces, both old and official, are with the House Sergeant at Arms.

"These prove that what they are doing is clearly a rump and illegal session where the Rules of the House will not apply and can not be used," he said.

But Cagayan De Oro City Representative Rufus Rodriguez, during the session, said that the mace is "only symbolic."

"It can’t take precedence or authority over physical warm bodies of majority and those attending via digital platform," he said.

The election of Velasco by his supporters appears to be a realization of the term-sharing agreement between him and Cayetano brokered no less than by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Under the original term-sharing agreement, Cayetano is expected to hold the speakership for 15 months and Velasco will take over to finish the remaining 21 months.

The election also took place before the special session of Congress which Duterte also called in order for the House to resume and finish the deliberations on the 2021 national budget.

Healing hand

Velasco urged Cayetano to "step down quietly" from the speakership so that the House under his leadership could tackle the 2021 budget on Tuesday.

Velasco said he is offering a "healing hand" to Cayetano, with whom he agreed to have a term-sharing agreement with.

"We would want to hold out parang a healing hand to former Speaker Cayetano. Let's stop all this. Nagsalita na ang mayorya ng Kongreso," he said.

"We are asking him to step down quietly, peacefully nang sa gayon ay maumpisahan na namin ang pagdinig sa 2021 budget tomorrow," he added.

At the Senate, Committee on Finance chairperson Sonny Angara said the congressmen's decision on changing leadership is an "internal matter" within the House but expressed hope it would not derail the approval of the budget.

"Walang say ang Senado diyan pero ganun pa din ang request namin na sana maipasa ng third and final reading ang panukalang budget bago mag-recess ang Kongreso. Handa din ang mga senador na mag-special session kung kinakailangan para sa agarang pag-aprub sa budget," Angara said in a message.—KBK/LDF, GMA News