Up to House to determine if Velasco event violated quarantine rules —Palace

Malacañang on Tuesday said it is up to the House to determine whether lawmakers allied with newly elected Speaker Lord Allan Velasco violated social distancing protocols during their meeting on Monday at an events place in Quezon City.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque tossed the matter to the House of Representatives, which has an ethics committee that deals with issues relating to the duties, conduct, privileges and immunities as well as reputation of the chamber and its members.

“We leave it na po to the House of Representatives kasi pati po iyong isyu ng pananagutan, accountability, the members of Congress can only be held accountable by their peers,” Roque, a former party-list lawmaker, said in a televised briefing.

“Napakahirap naman po that the President being a co-equal branch will interfere even with the manner by which the House of Representatives met.”

Around 111 lawmakers reportedly attended the gathering at the Celebrity Sports Plaza in Quezon City, which culminated with the election of Velasco as speaker to replace Taguig Representative Alan Peter Cayetano.

On Tuesday, the lawmakers made official the election of the Marinduque congressman during a plenary vote.

The government’s COVID-19 task force allows gatherings that are for the provision of critical government services and authorized humanitarian activities while adhering to the minimum health standards. 

Mass gatherings such as but not limited to, movie screenings, concerts, sporting events, and other entertainment activities, community assemblies, and non-essential work gatherings are not allowed. — BM, GMA News