PRESIDENTIAL SON and Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte said have appealed to lawmakers to respect each other amid the row in the House leadership between Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Jay Velasco.
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| President Rodrigo Duterte talks to his son, Paolo Duterte, in this government file photo. (King Rodriguez) |
Cayetano was supposed to hand over his position September 30 to
Velasco as part of their 2019 team-sharing agreement. The president also spoke
to Cayetano and Velasco to end their squabble with Velasco taking over the
House leadership October 14.
But Cayetano insisted to stay after lawmakers allied with him
rejected his resignation to pave way for the transition, adding, more than 200
lawmakers from 304 representatives are supporting him.
Friends
The young Duterte admitted being friends to both Cayetano and
Velasco, but because of tug-of-war between the two allies, he said: “Due to
this issue on the term-sharing agreement, Congress is currently mired in what
seems to be a battle between two people I’m close with. I am saddened that it
has come to this —a House divided. And if we remain a House divided, we will
fail in our mandate to serve the people as
their representatives.”
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| A photo from the Facebook page of Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Jay Velasco shows him with Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Sen. Bong Go in a recent meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte. |
Duterte said Velasco has the right to assert
his claim, however, majority of the lawmakers are supporting Cayetano.
“It can’t be denied that such a term-sharing agreement
was made before. Because of this, Congressman Velasco has the right to assert
his claim to the Speakership. However, we have also seen that a considerable
number of our colleagues still support Speaker Cayetano.”
Unified
House
“As I am all for a unified House, and given the value I place in
every member of Congress, I refuse to make any statement that will favor or
damage either of my two good friends who are both asserting their right to be
our Speaker,” he said.
Cayetano said more than 200 lawmakers from 304 representatives are
supporting him.
Duterte said if and when the day comes that they are called to
select the House leader, “I hope we vote for someone who is committed, who
understands what we want to achieve for our constituents, and who can fight for
and with us, and unify the 300 members of this House of Representatives despite
our many differences. And when we do make that decision, I hope we can find it
in our hearts to vote for someone, not just for convenience or affiliation, but
whom we feel strongly can represent the House with the dignity that it
deserves.”
“And whatever may be the result of this, I humbly ask my colleagues
to remain respectful to one another, and support whoever is the Speaker. At the
end of this episode, I hope we can go beyond politics and remember that more
than power, it is the relationships we’ve formed in these halls of Congress and
our duties to the people that matter most,” he added.
Duterte’s statement was shared by his allies in the House - Rep. Eric
Yap, of ACT-CIS party-list; and Sulu Rep. Samier Tan.
Uphold
Agreement
For his part, Velasco said trust and honor are values that are
important because they reveal true character of a leader.
“When the House Speakership term-sharing
agreement was entered into, it was based on mutual trust and confidence. After
all, it was an agreement brokered by and forged in the presence of no less than
President Rodrigo Duterte.”
“The covenant was crystal clear: a 15-21
term-sharing agreement. The first term expires on Sept 30, after which the
second term immediately begins. That was the pledge made before the President.
As true leaders and as examples for our people, both sides are obligated to
avoid situations or statements that would subvert the agreement and betray the
trust of our people who’ve stood witness to the covenant. Let us uphold the
agreement as this was made - for God and our country 1521 - I have always
intended to honor the agreement. We all should. Our people deserve nothing
less,” Velasco said. (Mindanao Examiner)
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