Cayetano enlists help from Velasco, Romualdez to determine committee chairmanships

Taguig City Representative Alan Peter Cayetano has enlisted the help of his fellow candidates for House Speaker, Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco and Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez, to identify the chairpersons of committees in the House of Representatives.

In a 24 Oras report by GMA News' Sandra Aguinaldo, Cayetano, whom President Rodrigo Duterte has chosen as Speaker, said he already talked to Velasco and Romualdez regarding committee chairmanships.

"Maganda naman usapan namin ni Cong. Velasco at Cong. Martin Romualdez so I'm looking forward to working with them. Buo naman ang tiwala ng ating Pangulo. So less concern ko 'yung hindi matuloy, more concern ko 'yung successful Congress 18th Congress," he said.

Cayetano is expected to take the helm of the House of Representatives for 15 months, while Velasco would take over the speakership position for the remaining 21 months in keeping with the term sharing agreement that Duterte wanted.

"Kasi 'yung source ng disunity diyan kapag may struggle who gets what position [in the committees] but since 15 months is not a long period, ang gusto ko nga magkasundo na para wala nang palitan ang chairmanship and then effective. We are challenged talaga to produce within 15 months," he said.

Apart from his fellow speakership contenders, Cayetano said he has already talked to Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.

Paolo, along with other congressmen from the Duterte Coalition, has earlier endorsed Davao City 3rd District Representative Isidro Ungab for the speakership position.

"Personal 'yung usapan pero sobra namin vina-value yung relationship and Lani [Cayetano] is very, very close to Sara so we made sure na alam n'ya na we are supportive," Cayetano said.

Among the issues that Cayetano intends to focus on as Speaker include the national budget, anti-corruption laws, economic development and job creation.

He said he would also push for Charter change, the shift to a federal form of government and the restoration of death penalty.

House members will formally elect the next Speaker during the opening of the session of the 18th Congress on the morning of July 22, the same day that Duterte is set to deliver his fourth State of the Nation Address.