Cayetano now a virtual punching bag

By pinoynews4

Lacson, Pulong, Pimentel (2 times) and Mike Defensor take turns in undermining Cayetano

One week before Senator Manny Pacquiao enters a real boxing ring, there is a lot of pre-fight sparring that Congressman Alan Pater Cayetano is getting into. It all started with an endorsement by President Duterte of his 2016 vice presidential running mate (who lost), former Senator and Foreign Affairs Secretary and now Taguig Representative to become the next Speaker of the House in a term sharing agreement with Cong Lord Alan Velasco of Marinduque. The Duterte announcement sent shock waves in the House Administration super majority since Velasco and Leyte Congressman Martin Romualdez are reputed to have more votes committed to them already. The situation was further muddled when Presidential son and Davao Congressman Paolo Duterte threw his hat in the House Speaker ring. To avoid a possible backlash brought about by a Duterte President and House Speaker, Presidential daughter Davao City Mayor Inday Sara floated the name of Cong Ungab of Davao to be the Hugpong Ng Pagbabago standard bearer.

There was temporary calm and acceptance of the Presidential anointment of Cayetano until party list Congressman Mike Defensor displayed a vote for your choice text message allegedly from Sara Duterte (which she denied). Mike identified the sender only as a neophyte Congressman from Davao. Pulong, as Paolo Duterte is called, revealed that there could be a surprise move or coup in the forthcoming election for House Speaker  meaning pro Administration representatives may vote against the candidate of the President (Cayetano). Senator Panfilo Lacson put in his two cents worth against the proposal of Congressman Cayetano to extend the terms and/or term limits of Representatives and Senators. Senator Koko Pimentel confirmed the possibility of sudden changes in leadership both in the Lower House and in the Senate at any time, meaning Cayetano could win as House Speaker but still lose the position even before his fifteen months of term sharing are over.

ANALYSIS: Considering that Cong Alan Cayetano is a presumed contender to run for President or Vice President in 2022 and the position of House Speaker should enhance his chances for electoral victory to possibly succeed President Duterte, Cong Alan is being given a rough time (by his possible future opponents?). Political parties, groups and blocs all have their eyes on 2022 and the 2019 House Speaker race is a good indicator of strength and testing ground for horse trading, credit grabbing, back stabbing and alliance building. The road to Malacanang starts in the Lower House which is the reason why senators (Lacson, Pimentel) are weighing in on the chance to make a President, to break an aspiring President, or to become President (or Vice President). Outside Congress (Senate and House of Representatives), far away from Imperial Manila, Mayor Inday Sara of the now powerful Hugpong Ng Pagbabago (with nine elected senators in 2019) has shown her political prowess first with the removal of House Speaker Alvarez in 2018, and then with her orchestration of the 2019 senatorial contest. As long as the current Administration continues with its high popularity and acceptance ratings, the Duterte brand would still hold the position of the country’s Chief Executive after the term of Tatay Digong ends.

Rep. Paolo Duterte hints of ‘coup’ when House members pick new Speaker

By pinoynews4

President Duterte on son Paolo revelation – WISHFUL THINKING

By ERWIN COLCOL, GMA News

Despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s endorsement of Taguig Representative Alan Peter Cayetano, Davao City Representative Paolo Duterte believes the fight for the House speakership is far from over, and even hinted of a House coup on July 22.

In a message to reporters, Paolo said no one has formally won the speakership yet and an election would still be held on July 22, the day President Duterte will deliver his fourth State of the Nation Address and the opening of the First Regular Session of the 18th Congress.

“May election pa sa July 22 at doon ako mas interesado, kung sino ang mananalo. Kasi may bali-balita, may isa sa tatlo na balak mag-coup d’etat on the day,” Paolo said.

“Mukhang hindi pa tapos ang laban para sa kanilang tatlo at sa mga backers.”

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said it is still up to House members to make their choice for Speaker.

“In the ultimate analysis, the vote on the Speaker would lie on the members of Congress. The only reason why the President gave that suggestion is because those who are vying for it went to him and sought his wise suggestion to settle the row between and among them,” Panelo told reporters.

Should the House members decide not to elect Cayetano as Speaker, Panelo said it would not reflect on President Duterte’s political clout.

“It’s not a reflection of the clout of the President. Because the President didn’t want to interfere in the first, didn’t wanna intrude. It’s them who somehow persuaded him to come in,” he said.

President Duterte has endorsed Cayetano, his running-mate in the 2016 elections, for Speaker, a position he is expected to share with Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco.

Under the scheme, Cayetano would be the first to take the position for 15 months, and Velasco would succeed him to complete the remaining 21 months of the speakership.

Meanwhile, President Duterte said Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez, who had also expressed intention to run for Speaker, would be the House majority leader, a position that he has already accepted, according to his supporter Albay Representative Joey Salceda.

Paolo and his fellow congressmen belonging to the Duterte Coalition, on the other hand, had nominated Davao City Representative Isidro Ungab for Speaker. —with Virgil Lopez/KBK, GMA News

Cayetano House Speakership – not yet assured?

By pinoynews4

Koko Pimentel: Cayetano has to work for House speakership, to meet PDP-Laban Thursday night

Amita Legaspi, GMA News

July 11, 2019

Taguig Representative Alan Peter Cayetano may have been named by President Rodrigo Duterte his bet for House Speaker but there is still not assurance that he will get the post, Senator Aquilino Pimentel III said Thursday.

“Advantage siya ngayon with the statement of the President. Suwerte nga niya e. He has the advantage (but) not an assurance, he still has to work for it,” Pimentel said during the Kapihan sa Senado.

He said Cayetano, a member of the Nacionalista Party, still has to convince members of the House of Representatives to vote for him.

“He still has to convince the members para hindi siya magulat.  He has to make sure na lahat will vote for him. Put in writing everything para klaro, sa July 22 ang formal vote,” he said, referring to the opening of the 18th Congress.

“He (Cayetano) cannot sit as House Speaker without the support of PDP-Laban,” he added.

Pimentel said Representatives Johnny Pimentel and Aurelio ‘Dong’ Gonzales Jr of Partido Demoktratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) are set to meet Cayetano and his representatives Thursday night for a negotiation.

“Details will have to be threshed out,  may meeting ngayong gabi between PDP-Laban representatives and Rep. Cayetano and his representatives for the details, ‘wag nating pangunahan baka deal breaker pa ‘yung iba,” he said.

He said the meeting is important because PDP-Laban, which he heads, has 85 members in the House.

“We have 85 members, part of the negotiation is the proportional representation na sundin,  even sa number of committees. ‘Yung senior members bigyan ng senior positions, the committees should allow us to pursue our agenda,” he said.

He said there should be give and take.

“Ang gusto kong sabihin, in the true spirit of negotiation dapat give and take. Anlaki ng take niya  (Cayetano) House speakership. You can never sit as House Speaker kung wala kang plurality of vote,” he said.

Duterte earlier endorsed Cayetano to be Speaker in a term sharing arrangement with Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco. Under the proposed setup, Cayetano would serve as Speaker during the first 15 months and Velasco, the remaining 21 months. 

GMA News Online has reached out to the camp of Cayetano, but has yet to receive a reply as of posting time. — RSJ, GMA News

Isko Moreno – Phenomenal first few days in office

By pinoynews4

Newly installed Manila Mayor Isko Moreno is taking his city by storm and has the whole Philippines watching in awe. A massive clean up drive cleared streets formerly occupied by vendors and peddlers was just the first salvo. His every speech now contains pearls of wisdom that would transform Manila to its old glory. There are also bits and pieces of his vision to feed school children, install solar panels in city buildings, convert trash to energy and strengthen disaster preparedness.

With Moreno doing all of the talking, one now wonders why few Metro Manila top city executives are visible to the public with the possible exception of newbie Mayor Vico Sotto of Pasig. Obviously Moreno comes as a breath of fresh air because in spite of the fact that on the national level President Duterte cleaned up Boracay and me-too projects like the Manila Bay and Pasig River clean ups had local government contributions, NCR mayors were, and still are, mum on massive projects with huge environmental impact.

Less than two weeks in office, Moreno is proving that change for the better can be achieved.

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National – Duterte 80%, Local – QC Belmonte 65%, Manila Moreno 90%

 BY PINOYNEWS4

sws du30 80%

RECORD-HIGH. Halfway through his term, President Duterte gets a record-high satisfaction rating with 80% of Filipinos satisfied with his performance, based on the latest SWS survey.

New Mayors – Belmonte (65, worst), Moreno (90, best) and Sotto (80, good)

One week into office as mayors, Isko Moreno of Manila has shown tremendous political will and the ability to clear the streets of vendors and peddlers while Joy Belmonte of Quezon City is hounded by issues of being a turncoat (from YELLOW to a Duterte supporter), perpetuating a DYNASTY (at least 4 Belmontes currently elected in QC), NEPOTISM (appointing an in law and a cousin as top city officials) and lack of compassion (removing contract workers taken in during the past administration).

Quantitatively, Belmonte is given a 65 (with 75 as the passing grade) while Moreno gets a 90 (very good). Special mention goes to Vico Sotto of Pasig with a grade of 80 (good).