Category: Uncategorized

Grumblings in a Cayetano Speakership

By pinoynews4

Even before former Senator and now Congressman Alan Peter Cayetano has officially been elected as the next Speaker of the House, there are rumblings and grumblings against his endorsement by President Duterte for a term sharing mechanism with Representative Lord Velasco. The Presidential recommendation took many by surprise considering that the President had been shifting from a non-interference stand to a compromise term sharing position.

Party list Representative Mike Defensor apologized to Davao City Mayor Inday Sara for dragging her name in a text message encouraging congressmen to vote for the candidate of choice and not just be swayed by the Presidential endorsement.

Representative Mikee Romero is now in a dilemma as he has gathered about fifty party list representatives that are supportive of the Duterte Administration at the same time that they had already previously endorsed Representative Velasco. With the announcement of the Presidential choice for Speaker, Romero has only given a QUALIFIED SUPPORT for Cayetano.

ANALYSIS: It is clear that Cayetano does not have the numbers to win an honest to goodness election in the House of Representatives. If the pressure from the Palace is taken away and the representatives are given the free hand to choose among themselves on who their leader would be, it will not be Cayetano. Of course, it is not the 2019 election for House Speaker that is being examined here but rather how this race for House Speaker in 2019 will impact the 2022 Presidential elections. Alan Cayetano and Sara Duterte (technically not a representative but rather a city mayor with a regional political party and a lot of national clout) could gain influence or lose points depending on how they handle the situation that can propel either or both to the Presidency or Vice Presidency.

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Defensor apologizes to Sara for ‘text’ urging rejection of Cayetano

Pathricia Ann V. Roxa, inquirer dot net

July 10, 2019

Defensor apologizes to Sara for ‘text’ urging rejection of Cayetano

PHOTO: Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor shows a text message from a neophyte House member from Davao, whom Defensor refused to name, to reporters on Tuesday, July 10, 2019. The text message claims Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has given him the go signal to inform lawmakers to reject Alan Peter Cayetano’s bid to become Speaker of the House of Representatives. (Photo by PATHRICIA ANN V. ROXAS / INQUIRER.net0

MANILA, Philippines — Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor has apologized to Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio for showing a text message supposedly stating that she was urging House members to reject President Rodrigo Duterte’s pronouncement on the speakership.

On Tuesday night, Defensor showed reporters the text message which he said was sent by a neophyte congressman from Davao who was “very close” to the presidential daughter. But the Mayor later disowned the text message, branding it as “disinformation.”

The message reads: “Hi sir! I have the go signal of Mayor Inday to publish. ‘Kaya nanawagan siya ngayon sa lahat ng mga Congressmen na bumoto ayon sa kanilang kagustuhan dahil ang kanya ama ay na set-up lamang ng mga gahaman na gabinete na kaalyado ni Cayetano.’ – Mayor Inday.”

On Wednesday, Defensor denied saying that the text came from a congressman close to Sara. He said the mention of the congressman was referring to the meeting with the party-list coalition where two party-list congressmen discussed the Duterte Coalition’s continued fight despite Duterte’s endorsement of Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano as Speaker. 

The lawmaker refused to name the congressman citing confidentiality of their discussion.

“I apologized to Mayor Inday Sara if I have in anyway offended her with my statement. I did not say it came from her or a congressman. In fact, I should not have shown it because reading it again it had Inday Sara’s name,” Defensor said in a statement.

“It was wrong of me to drag her name unfairly on this matter,” the party-list lawmaker added.

The Davao City Mayor also said it was Defensor who reached out to her through Atty. Charo Munsayac to “make last-minute requests for (Leyte) Rep. (Martin) Romualdez.” Defensor confirmed this. 

“I didn’t want to bother Atty. Charo, my lawyer and a good friend of the Mayor, as regards political concerns but the turn of events on the speakership fight has left me and many of my colleagues confused and nonplussed on the matter,” the congressman explained.ADVERTISEMENT

Defensor, who had been supporting Romualdez, on Tuesday, said the speakership issue was already decided, but “the reality is there are still movements.” (Editor: Katherine G. Adraneda)

LP – PAGBALIMBING FORMALIZED, sumama na sa mayorya ng Kamara

By pinoynews4

Matapos ang mabigat na PAGKATALO ng Otso Diretso sa Inidoro sa nakalipas na halalan nitong 2019 na pinangunahan ni dating senador Mar Roxas at re-electionist senator Bam Aquino, tila nagbabago na ang ihip ng hangin sa hanay ng Partido Liberal. Maaalala na sa pagkapanalo ni Pangulong Duterte nuong 2016, nagumpisa na ang BALIMBINGAN ng mga kasapi at mga kakampi ng LP sa Senado, Kamara at sa mga lokal na pamahalaan. Yan ang dahilan kung bakit ang mga DILAWAN ay nagwagi nitong 2019 habang nakasakay sa hanay ng pamahalaan (Hugpong ng Pagbabago, PDP-Laban).

Tila nalagay sa alangnin o nakakatawa o sadyang pagkaipokrito lang na habang ang mga DILAWAN ay BUMALIMBING o sumanib sa mga koalisyon ng mga taga suporta ni Pangulong Duterte sa antas ng LGU at Kamara, ang mga kasapi at kaalyado naman nila sa Senado (Drilon, Pangilinan, De Lima at Hontiveros) ay patuloy sa pagtuligsa at pagbanat sa kasalukuyang administrasyon.

Sa politics, ang tawag dito ay DUAL TACTICS kung saan ang isang kamay ay inaabot para makipagkaibigan habang ang kabila naman ay gustong manampal o manuntok.

Maliwanag na OPORTUNISMO ang pakay ng mga 2019 LP sa Kamara sa PAGBALIMBING (gaya rin ng maraming 2016 LP sa Senado, Kamara at mga LGU). Gusto nila na makakuha pa ng boto sa mga mamamayan na lagpas 80% ay pro administration batay sa pinakahuling SWS survey. Bilang kasali sa mayorya sa House, umaasa sila na makakuha sila ng mga pwesto sa mga komite ng Kamara (higit na maraming kasapi ng majority coalition ang nabibigyan ng pwesto sa mga komite ng Kamara kaysa sa mapupunta sa minorya).

Hindi ba dapat na ang Liberal Party ay sumama sa oposisyon sa Kamara kung saan sila babagay. Malamang nakakakita na ang marami sa mga natitira pang mga kasapi ng Partido Liberal na kung hindi nila kaya umalis sa LP bilang mga indibidwal, mas mabuti pang sumama nalang ang House LP sa mayorya na nakahanay sa Pamahalaang Duterte upang makaakit pa ng mga boto mula sa mga botanteng kakampi sa kasalukuyang administrasyon. Isip ng mga LP sa Kamara na tuluyan na silang malalagas at mauubos gaya ng nangyayari sa Senado kung saan ang mga BUMALIMBING na sina Angara, Villar, Pimentel, at Poe na lahat ay kasama sa LP ticket o LP Senate Coalition ni dating Pangulong Aquino at nagwagi nuon ay lumipat sa Duterte Coalition at mga nagsipagpanalo (muli) habang sina Bam Aquino at Mar Roxas na nanatili sa LP ay natalo.

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LP congressmen to join House majority: Erice

ABS-CBN News

July 8, 2019

MANILA – Liberal Party (LP) members in the House of Representatives will join the House majority, Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice said Monday.

“Ang mayorya ng Liberal Party congressmen ay nag-usap na at ang desisyon ay maging kasapi kami ng mayorya, the majority. So we’ll be joining the majority. We’ll be in coalition with the other,” Erice told DZMM Teleradyo.

According to Erice, President Rodrigo Duterte made the right decision to formally endorse Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano as House Speaker.

“Palagay ko tamang panahon na para wakasan ang paglalaban-laban ng mga aspirants,” Erice said.

The Liberal Party earlier said it will decide between Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco for the House speakership in the incoming 18th Congress.

Erice said they chose both aspirants because of Velasco’s “new ideas” and ability to communicate with young legislators and Romualdez’s leadership and experience.

The LP stalwart also said Cayetano and former House Speaker Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, who are also vying for the speakership, are “unpopular” in the ranks of the House.

Following the President’s endorsement, Erice said Duterte made the right choice since Cayetano is a “veteran” congressman.

“Beterano naman po si Speaker Alan. Beterano na, congressman for three terms, naging senador, so alam na alam niya ‘yung gagawin niya doon sa Kongreso,” Erice said.

Isko open to waste to energy tech in solving garbage woes

By pinoynews4

ABS-CBN News

July 09, 2019

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno is considering tapping waste to energy technology to help rid the city of garbage.

“I like the idea. It’s clean and gives power to the community,” he told ANC’s Headstart, saying he already talked to two proponents.

“But first things first, ayoko ng basura sa kalsada because this would generate more problems, sanitation…so ‘yun muna kasi this can be planned,” he added.

On his first day of office, 20 truckloads of garbages were removed from what he called the new Smokey Mountain located in Liwasang Bonifacio.

He also warned two garbage contractors in Manila that he is watching them.

“Pag igihan ninyo. Never ever sabotage this administration. I will recognize and respect a valid contract but violation of provisions of it that affects the general welfare of our citizens, hahabulin ko kayo,” he said.

Meanwhile, the new city mayor thanked the Department of Public Works and Highways for helping improve pipes around the city to reduce flooding especially during the rainy season.

“But Manila geographically speaking, is below sea level so maaring magkaroon pa rin ng baha. Ang pangarap ko, pag tigil ng ulan, dapat humupa na,” he said.

— ANC Headstart 9 July 2019

Alan Cayetano is House speaker, ‘15-21’ term sharing with Velasco

By pinoynews4
Christina Mendez (The Philippine Star)
July 9, 2019

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has spoken. It’s Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano that he wants to sit as speaker of the House of Representatives at the opening of the 18th Congress on July 22.

After weeks of trying to keep his hands off the issue, Duterte announced his choice last night before a gathering of newly appointed officials at Malacañang.

His announcement ended weeks of wrangling among his Congress allies over who should occupy the top House seat and blaze the trail for his legislative agenda.

While Duterte’s choice of Cayetano will still be subjected to a House vote on July 22, a presidential endorsement traditionally goes unchallenged in a chamber dominated by supporters.

“Your speaker will be Alan Peter Cayetano. He shares the term with Lord Velasco,” said Duterte, referring to Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco.

“We thank him for the announcement that he has made. We want the House to be the Congress of the people,” Cayetano said, referring to Duterte. “Good governance will always come first.”

Earlier, Cayetano claimed agreeing to serve as speaker for 15 months and be succeeded by Velasco for 21 months. Cayetano belongs to the Nacionalista Party while Velasco had the endorsement of the President’s own party, PDP-Laban.

Duterte said he had tried to distance himself from the speakership row but felt he had to intervene as the issue dragged on.

He said he wants another ally and contender for the speakership post, Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, to be the next majority leader.

“I tried to distance myself from the… But apparently I said it’s time that I talk. So ganun ho ang ano – that’s the setup,” the President said after emerging from a meeting with the three contenders at Malacañang.

The Chief Executive lamented that the issue has created “so much uncertainty.”

“Velasco, kung buhay pa siya (if he is still alive),” would take over the speaker post after an agreed period, Duterte said.

Work on Cha-cha now

In remarks at the oath-taking of new officials, Duterte also directed his allies to speed up efforts to change the Constitution – before he ends his six-year term.

“If you want to change the Constitution, do it now habang buhay pa ako (while I’m still alive),” Duterte said.

Come July 22, the President is expected to get his wish without having to worry about a possible leadership coup like the one initiated by his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio that resulted in the ouster of Pantaleon Alvarez as speaker and his replacement by Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Cayetano’s Nacionalista Party is led by former Senate president and Vistaland Group chairman Manuel Villar.

Sara’s Hugpong ng Pagbabago had endorsed the speakership bid of Davao City 3rd District Rep. Isidro Ungab. Presidential son Davao Rep. Paolo Duterte had initially declared his intention to join the fray but was prevailed upon by his father to withdraw.

PDP-Laban president Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III welcomed the development even if the party had proposed a different term sharing scheme to President Duterte. Pimentel described Duterte’s term sharing as a “good proposal.”

“We made our own term sharing proposal in order to resolve the issue of House speaker. But if the President himself has resolved the issue, then great!” the senator told reporters.

He did not reveal the party’s term-sharing proposal but presumably it had Velasco getting the first term.

Party spokesman Ronwald Munsayac said the party leadership would have a meeting to discuss the latest development.

“But offhand, we fully respect the decision and wisdom of our party chairman, President Duterte. The PDP-Laban is still the majority party in Congress and will rigorously push for the legislative agenda of the Duterte administration,” he said.

Presidential spokesman and chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo said the President had to break the impasse among his allies to preserve unity.

“Since the election of the speaker has resulted in a bitter and fractious rivalry that threatens the break-up of political allies, the President, to save the unity of the alliance and avert its fragmentation, obliged to the request of the three candidates,” Panelo said last night.

He said the three candidates for speakership “agree(d) to respect the choice of PRRD,” referring to Duterte by his presidential initials.

“It’s Alan Cayetano as the speaker in the first 15 months, then the next 21 months, the speaker will be Lord Allan Velasco, with Martin Romualdez as the majority floor leader,” Panelo said.

Panelo said the three lawmakers had sought the assistance of the President in resolving the speakership issue. – With Edith Regalado, Delon Porcalla

 

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).

Erap could face new JAIL TIME if ……

By pinoynews4

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno to go after past administration

ABS-CBN News

Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno bared that the administration of his predecessor, ousted President and plunder convict Joseph Estrada, spent P2.9 billion pesos on commercial contracts in just a month after the midterm elections, or before leaving office.

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Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno claimed that he did not receive any transition documents from former mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada.According to a report by Tina Panganiban-Perez on GMA News TV’s State of the Nation with Jessica Soho, Moreno held out a piece of paper with a “0” printed on it when he was supposed to deliver the state of the city address on Monday.”Ito ang natanggap namin sa transition group nila, mga dokumento, papel na kakailanganin natin para maging smooth ang first day natin, ito po ang natanggap ko sa kanila. Ito ang katayuan ng siyudad ng pamahalaang lungsod ng Maynila,” Moreno said.

He also claimed that the city government even spent P2.9 billion after the midterm elections.

Former city administrator Jojo Alcovendaz said that those release of funds were backed by a procurement document which was already approved last year.

Alcovendaz added that the amount did not reach P2.9 billion.

Further, he denied Moreno’s claim that the previous administration did not turn over documents for the transition. “Nagtu-turnover po kami, pero hindi tinanggap ng opisina ni incoming secretary to the mayor na si Councilor Bernie Ang. So ang ginawa po namin dinala ho namin ito sa DILG City Director’s Office. Tinanggap naman po ito. Naipadala na rin po ito sa tanggapan ng city administrator ni Mayor Isko,” Alcovendaz said.

GMA News is still trying to get Moreno’s comment on the former official’s explanation. —Dona Magsino/LDF, GMA News

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

By pinoynews4

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).

Mga PEKENG DDS problemado agad sa QC

By pinoynews4

qc mar leni joy sb vargas

Ilang araw palang sa bagong pamunuan ng Joy Belmonte term of office bilang mayora ng Quezon City, may hinaharap na siyang malaking suliranin. Ilang dosenang manggagawa sa Novaliches District Hospital ay TINANGGAL sa trabaho sa simpleng rason na mga contractual lang naman sila. Malayo ito sa nagaganap sa mga bagong pamunuan sa Pasig (Sotto) at Maynila (Moreno) kung saan binibigyan ng kahalagahan ang naiambag ng mga kawani maski pa naitalaga sila sa lungsod ng mga nakalipas na administrasyon.

Sa Quezon City, pangako ng bagong mayora nuong kampanya na LILINISIN niya ang Quezon City mula sa mga nakapasok sa trabaho sa panahon ng pinalitan niyang si Bistek Bautista na nagsilbi ng siyam na taon. Sa madaling salita, hinusgahan na ang mga empleyado na ang puso at damdamin nila ay kumikiling sa kaaway niyang si Bistek (maski pa magkapartido sila sa ilalim ng tatay ni Joy na si SB). Hindi binigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga SINIBAK na mga contractual na maipakita kung may naging  mabuti silang work record at job performance.

Pumunta si mayora ngayong araw sa Novaliches District Center na kasama pa ang kapwa niyang DILAWAN na bumalimbing din na si Cong Alfred Vargas ng District 5, Quezon City. May problema din ang bagong itinalaga ni mayora na Medical Director sa NDH. Maayos man niya ang gusot sa mga manggagawa, mahihirapan siya ilaglag ang manok niya na ginawang pinuno sa NDH.

 

A Tale of Two Cities – Manila and Quezon City

By pinoynews4

Two newly elected mayors in the Philippines are off to different directions and starts. Manila Mayor Isko Moreno is displaying a good start by cleaning up the major thoroughfares of Manila. Street obstruction or blockage had been the bane of the city and vehicular traffic was stalled due to the proliferation of “sidewalk” vendors. In the previous city administrations, street hawkers took over the historic streets themselves allegedly with the permission of city higher ups in exchange for millions of pesos in bribes on a daily basis.

On the other hand, in Quezon City, newbie Mayor Joy of the Belmonte family DYNASTY is pursuing her campaign promise of ridding the city government of non-permanent employees appointed by her predecessor Bistek Bautista. Strictly speaking both come from the same political party of the Belmonte patriarch but there is much bad blood among the two. Just a few days into the Joy Belmonte mayoralty stint, THOUSANDS of casuals have been given notice that their contracts would not be renewed. The IRONY here is that the Bistek-Joy feud had nothing to do with the recent election that elevated Joy to the position of mayor. Bistek had served three consecutive terms as Quezon City mayor and the Philippine Constitution has set a term limit of three terms for local executives, provincial officers and members of the Congressional Lower House (both district representatives and partylist congressmen). In other words, the Quezon City employees now being DISCHARGED, in all probability, voted for Joy to be their mayor since her opponent came a different political party.

ANALYSIS: Isko Moreno obviously pissed a huge number of his constituents who made a living through selling their wares on the streets. On the other hand, the vendors themselves knew that what they were doing was ILLEGAL. That was the very reason they coughed out grease money for the officials to look the other way. In Quezon City, removing the non-permanent city employees en masse could have a huge BACKLASH in the 2022 elections as said contractuals would profess that they were removed from their employment on the basis of their supposed connections to the previous Bistek regime and not on the basis of their competence, work record and performance on the job.

LOOK: Two crucial Manila

streets now vendor-free

BY Christian Imperio, The Philippine Star

JULY 3, 2019

Two of the most crowded streets in Manila have been purged of vendors following a series of cleanup operations on Tuesday.

On his second day of office, Mayor Isko Moreno ordered a series of clearing operations in a bid to decongest some of Manila’s streets that had become traffic chokepoints over the past couple of years.

A den of vendors who notoriously set their stalls on the street has been cleared from the stretch of CM Recto Avenue in Divisoria while a similar activity was also conducted along Carriedo Street in Sta. Cruz on the same day.

Some portions of the street along Carriedo were later marked with blue lines to specify the allotted space for vendors.

Meanwhile, two persons were caught collecting payoffs from vendors in Blumentritt market were arrested on Tuesday.

The suspects were apprehended after a police officer posed as a vendor handed them the marked money.

The suspects exposed the extent of the alleged corrupt activities in the public markets of Manila.

Maj. Rosalino Ibay of the Special Mayor’s Reaction Team said that the suspects would collect P20 to P30 three times a day from legitimate vendors and were given “collection tickets” not sanctioned by the city government, The STAR reported.

One of the suspects said that million of pesos were being collected weekly from Blumentritt market alone.

Cayetano attack on Velasco shows he (Alan) does not have the votes to become Speaker of the House

By pinoynews4
Former Senator and Secretary of Foreign Affairs, now Taguig Congressman Alan Peter Cayetano, may have unwittingly revealed that he does not have enough members of the House of Representatives in his pocket to become the next Speaker. Representative Cayetano is crying to the high heavens that Velasco already agreed to a term sharing as suggested by President Duterte while Velasco insists that the President would want the members of the House to settle things among themselves, meaning no Presidential endorsement of a particular candidate and no interference (from the executive) in a co-equal branch (legislature) of government.
Resorting to a term sharing is the negotiated result among candidates that are almost equal in votes and both would rather have shorter terms than risk losing in a close fight. Cayetano desperately clings to term sharing because he is the weaker candidate and he knows it which is why he wants a term sharing since he can not win in the voting. Velasco, on the other hand, is so confident of victory that he would not have anything to do with term sharing as he is already sure that he would win once the voting gets on the way.
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Cayetano accuses Velasco of lying about term-sharing
(Philstar dot com)
July 1, 2019 

MANILA, Philippines — Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano (Taguig) accused his rival Rep. Lord Allan Velasco (Marinduque) of lying about a supposed term-sharing deal for speakership at the House of Representatives.e speakership, earlier rejected the proposal as it would divide the lower chamber of Congress.

Cayetano insisted that it was the camp of Velasco that proposed term-sharing for the top spot at the House.

“Sinabi ni Lord Velasco na walan naman ganoong usapan. So okay lang naman sa akin na magsinungaling siya because politicians lie,” Cayetano told ANC’s “Headstart” Monday morning.

According to Cayetano, the camp of Velasco “ran” to Duterte when they found out he was running for Congress and brought up that there was a “promise” that he would take over the House speakership after the term of Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (Pampanga).

Cayetano stepped down from his post as secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs when he declared that he would seek a seat at the House and expressed his intent to be the next speaker.

The former DFA chief said Velasco owes Duterte an apology for supposedly denying that there was a term-sharing agreement.

“I was watching him here but to call the president a liar by saying there is no such agreement, I will not take that sitting down. Congressman Velasco owes the president an apology and he owes the people na mas maging honest siya,” Cayetano said.

Cayetano further claimed that the speakership row has been resolved during a meeting last week, where he talked with Velasco’s wife Wen.

“Sabi niya (Wen) ‘wag ka mag-alala kay Lord kasi mabait naman ‘yan. Susunod ‘yan sa napag-usapan natin,” Cayetano said.

This was the same meeting where Duterte asked Arroyo to choose her successor as he does not want to experience the “agony” of choosing the next House speaker.

Last week, Sen. Manny Pacquiao announced that majority of the lawmakers of PDP-Laban signed a manifesto of support for Velasco as House speaker for the full term of the 18th Congress.

Cayetano, meanwhile, claimed that at least 20 PDP-Laban lawmakers support his speakership bid. — Patricia Lourdes Viray

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Duterte says he greenlighted Cayetano-Velasco term-sharing

President Rodrigo Duterte confirms he proposed the term-sharing agreement but maintains he is sticking to his recent decision to let House members decide on the next Speaker

Pia Ranada (Rappler)

June 28, 2019

SPEAKERSHIP RACE. President Rodrigo Duterte shares a table with 3 Speaker hopefuls and Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo during the HNP thanksgiving dinner. Malacañang photo

PHOTO: SPEAKERSHIP RACE. President Rodrigo Duterte shares a table with 3 Speaker hopefuls (Cayetano, Velasco and Romualdez) and Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo during the HNP thanksgiving dinner. Malacañang photo

MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte has confirmed that he gave his blessing for a term-sharing agreement between Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco and incoming Taguig-Pateros Representative Alan Peter Cayetano, rivals in the speakership race.

It seemed, however, that Velasco backed out at the “last minute,” said Duterte, whose account of events is consistent with that of Cayetano.

Duterte even said the term-sharing was his idea.

“This is what I said. You split a term. Cayetano wanted to go first. But he will stay there just for 15 months. That’s what he committed. Velasco can have the other half which is not really as short – 21 months,”Duterte said in a mix of Filipino and English on Thursday, June 27.

 

“That was the proposal. Cayetano agreed but Velasco appears to have backed out at the last minute,” continued Duterte.

The President was asked about the term-sharing scheme after Cayetano issued a statement expressing deep disappointment that Velasco had made a “turnaround” and decided he “won’t honor [the] President’s wishes” even after he had agreed to it.

During the interview, Duterte said he had proposed the term-sharing when Velasco, Cayetano, and Romualdez met with him in Japan, during his recent visit there for an international forum.

He said he initially even suggested a “toss coin,” which the 3 opposed.

In the President’s account, it was Cayetano who first sought his endorsement as speaker, and then Velasco. To both, Duterte said he agreed with their plans to seek the speakership but supposedly never gave his “commitment.” Romualdez, the last to approach him, also did not get a commitment from him.

“They went up to my room and they said: ‘You decide. We will follow.’ I cannot do that because I do not want to offend anybody even if you say, ‘It’s up to you, Mayor.’ There’s always the fall out,” said Duterte.

With the term-sharing deal out of the picture, Duterte sasaid he would stick with his earlier decision to let House members decide on their own.

“Mag-labo-labo na lang kayo (You go it your own), Romualdez, Alvarez, Cayetano. And I am telling each and every one of them, ‘I am sorry. I am very sorry I could not be of help,'” said Duterte.

Velasco, in a statement on Thursday, said as much.

“President Duterte already made clear his position that he would leave the choice for Speakership to the capable hands of the members of Congress and will not endorse a particular individual for the position. This declaration never mentioned a term-sharing for the position of Speaker,” said Velasco.

PDP-Laban, Duterte’s national political party, had announced Velasco as its bet for Speaker. Three other groups back his bid, though one of them – the party-list coalition – said it would only finalize its decision on July 2, ahead of the July 22 House vote.

The Marinduque lawmaker, whose dad and wife are also close to the President, said many House members find term-sharing problematic.

“There is a strong consensus among majority members of the House of Representatives during my series of consultation with them that term-sharing is divisive and will only impede the passage of important pieces of legislation,” said Velasco.

Romualdez, who described himself as a “strong contender” for Speaker, is also opposed to term-sharing, for the same reasons. – Rappler dot com