Pro-Velasco solon accuses Cayetano of vindictiveness after Romero ouster

A congressman allied with Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco accused the camp of Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano of being vindictive following the removal of 1-Pacman party-list Representative Michael Romero as deputy speaker.

Oriental Mindoro Representative Salvador Leachon said Romero's ouster by the House plenary on Friday would be a cause for demoralization among lawmakers.

The removal of 1-Pacman party-list Representative Michael Romero as deputy speaker is a sign to the members of the House of Representatives, Oriental Mindoro Representative Salvador Leachon said Friday.

“Ito ay patunay kung ano ang tunay na kulay ng lideratong ito sa Kamara, pagiging ‘bengatibo’ dahil sa kaalyado lamang ni Cong. Lord Velasco si Deputy Speaker Mikee Romer,” Leachon told reporters.

Earlier, the House voted to remove Romero as deputy speaker amid the continued speakership row between Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Representative Velasco.

Romero is a known supporter of Velasco and the "gentleman's agreement" that has Cayetano vacating the speaker's seat for Velasco in October.

“Ito ay pagdudulot sa paglawak ng hidwaan ng mga mambabatas. Sila mismo ang nalabag sa kasunduan na walang aalisin sa mga committee chairmanships base sa pagkakaiba ng political affiliations,” Leachon said.

“Ito ay demoralisasyon sa hanay ng mga miyembro sa mga Kamara, higit sa lahat sa masigasig at masipag na mga mambabatas tulad ni Deputy Speaker Mikee Romero na ang tanging nagawa lang ay sumunod sa tagubilin ng Pangulo ng Pilipinas na may direktiba na igalang ang term-sharing agreement,” he added.

Leachon also said Romero’s removal is a disrespect to Malacañang.

“Higit sa lahat, sa simpleng pagtanaw, ang pagsibak na ginawa sa isang mambabatas ay tahasang disrespeto at lapastangan sa Tanggapan ng Malacañang na nagpasalidad para mangunang isaayos ang pagtatalaga ng liderato sa Kamara.”

Deputy Majority Leader XJ Romualdo of Camiguin moved to unseat Romero in the middle of plenary deliberations on the proposed P4.5 trillion national budget for 2021.

Romualdo also moved for the election of representative Fred Castro of Capiz as Romero’s replacement. -NB, GMA News