No formal meeting between Velasco, Cayetano on term sharing – solon

Supporters of Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco on Monday denied that a formal, face-to-face meeting, during which term-haring for the house Speakership was discussed, took place between Velasco and Taguig City Representative Alan Peter Cayetano.

Surigao Del Sur Representative Johnny Pimentel, who spoke on behalf of Velasco, made the clarification after Cayetano criticized Velasco for denying that there was such an agreement.

"I don’t think so na that is fair na sasabihin mo na nagsisinungaling si Cong. Lord Allan Velasco with regards to term sharing. Because, as what Cong. Velasco has told me... wala po silang pinag-usapan," Pimentel told reporters in a phone interview.

"There was no formal meeting between Lord Velasco and Cong. Cayetano. Hindi po sila nag-usap. They did not sit down. There was never any deal or talk between the two of them whatsoever," he added.

In an interview with ANC earlier in the day, Cayetano narrated how the agreement on term sharing was reached in principle last Monday night.

Cayetano claimed that, during the Hugpong ng Pagbabago's thanksgiving party, Senator Bong Go mediated a meeting between him and Velasco's wife, Rowena "Wen" Kristina Amara.

Cayetano said he and Rowena discussed how the speakership fight could be resolved, and why was it important that he would hold the position first before Velasco.

Cayetano clarified that when it came to matters about the speakership, it was Rowena who should be the one to talk to.

"Let me be clear, she's a friend, I've helped them many times before, there's no disrespect, we're talking. It's just factual, siya talaga ang kausap pagdating sa speakership," he said.

"Even she told me, 'Kapag magkasundo tayo, I have to talk to XYZ, I won't name them na. But huwag kang mag-alala kay Lord kasi mabait naman yan, susunod naman yan sa napag-usapan natin.' So siya talaga ang kausap about it," he added.

Velasco was still in the event when Cayetano spoke to Rowena and after they came to an agreement "in principle" with her.

"Ang problema is the next day, they called the President and said all is off na naman. At sila ang nagtuturo, kung sinu-sinong mga tao why it's off," he said.

But Pimentel said it was also unfair that Rowena, as Velasco's wife, was being dragged into the speakership issue, as she was not directly involved in the matter.

"I do not think Wen Velasco is interfering in the affairs in the speakership race. Hindi nakikialam si Wen Velasco," he said.

"But we all know that Wen is very close to the President’s family. Some people might have the perception that nakikialam si Mrs. Velasco pero ang katotohanan po niyan, hindi nakikialam si Mrs. Velasco sa pagkandidato ng speakership ng husband niya na si Lord Velasco," he added.

Cayetano said Velasco needed to apologize to President Rodrigo Duterte for his denial on the term sharing agreement.

House members will 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. — DVM, GMA News