Cayetano hopes latest House leadership revamp is the last

Taguig-Pateros Representative Alan Peter Cayetano is hoping that the latest revamp in House leadership posts will already be the last, stressing the need for lawmakers to unite as one team under the Duterte administration.

Cayetano made the remark after three of his allies were removed from their deputy speakership posts in a House led by his political rival, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.

In an interview with reporters on Thursday, Cayetano pointed out that majority of lawmakers support the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, regardless of which House leader they side with.

"It doesn’t matter kung malapit sila kay Alan Cayetano o kay Allan Velasco. Ang importante po, isang team lang kami sa administrasyon," he said.

"So sana po, huli na sana yun at maayos na kasi hindi ko talaga masabi yung mangyayari dahil hindi ko naman kontrolado ang kalooban ng lahat ng kongresista," he added.

During the House's plenary session on Wednesday, Capiz Representative Fredenil Castro, Laguna Representative Dan Fernandez, and Batangas Representative Raneo Abu were all removed as deputy speakers of the chamber.

They were replaced by Cagayan De Oro City Representative Rufus Rodriguez, Buhay party-list Representative Lito Atienza, and Las Piñas City Representative Camille Villar, respectively.

Villar, however, declined the position hours after she was elected.

Cayetano said those who were removed from their posts are hardworking lawmakers.

"Si Deputy Speaker Abu, grabe po ang ginawa niyan. Kahit na po proble-problema po ang Batangas dahil sa pagsabog po ng Taal, naglagari po yan, nagawa niya mga trabaho niya," he said.

"Si Deputy Speaker Dan Fernandez po, yung mga naibigay at naklaro po ng Meralco, malaki po ang role niya diyan," he added.

In the end, Cayetano once again raised Velasco's promise to the President that he supposedly would not remove any House leader from position should their term-sharing agreement take place.

"Ako po ay witness na buhay na sa harap ng Pangulo ay nangako po si Congressman Velasco na walang tanggalan," he said.

"Kung napaalala nila po sa amin before na pag may usapan dapat matupad, siguro, yun na lang ang message ko, na kung ano man ang usapan, dapat matupad," he added. — BM, GMA News