Cayetano to House peers: Join ‘die-hard Duterte supermajority’
MANILA, Philippines — Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano has urged his fellow lawmakers to join the “die-hard Duterte supermajority” or DDSM in the House of Representatives after President Rodrigo Duterte endorsed his Speakership bid.
Cayetano said DDSM will prove its political will against corruption, crimes, illegal drugs, as well as in uplifting the lives of Filipinos.
“Sa lahat ng mga congressman din na nakikinig, nagmo-monitor, please join the die-hard Duterte supermajority,” Cayetano said in a Facebook live he did moments after Duterte announced giving support to his speakership ambition.
During an oath-taking ceremony for newly appointed officials in Malacañang on Monday afternoon, Duterte publicized the term-sharing of Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco as Speaker of the House.
READ: Duterte pushes for Cayetano-Velasco term-sharing for Speaker
“The DDSM has come to town and we’re going to show that it’s not only the President, hindi lang ang Pangulong Duterte ang pwedeng magkaroon ng political will kundi pati ang ating House of Representatives ay pwedeng magkaroon ng political will laban sa corruption, sa crimes, sa drugs at para maiangat ang kabuhayan ng bawat Pilipino,” Cayetano said in the same Facebook live.
The former Foreign Affairs chief and Duterte’s running mate during the 2016 national elections also thanked the President. He said he would prioritize good governance as the highest leader of the House of Representatives.
“We thank him for the announcement that he has made and we want the House of Representatives to be the Congress of the People. Gusto na natin baguhin na mahal natin ang congressman natin pero galit tayo sa Kongreso. Good governance will always come first,” he said.
According to Duterte, Cayetano would share the three-year term with Velasco while Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez would be House Majority Leader.
Cayetano, meanwhile, admitted it would be a challenge for the House to unite and have better relationships with the Senate, the Judiciary, and Malacañang.
“But Mr. President we are up to the challenge,” he asserted.
Cayetano also thanked his rivals for the Speaker seat – Velasco, Romualdez, Davao del Norte 1st Dist. Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, and Davao City 3rd Dist. Rep. Isidro Ungab.
“Pero now, para sa ating Panginoon, para sa ating bayan, let’s all work together and let’s not make it about politicians, about ourselves, about the Duterte administration, but something that can really uplift ang kabuhayan ng bawat Pilipino,” he further said.
At least 300 members of the House of Representatives are poised to elect their Speaker at the inaugural opening of the 18th Congress on July 22. Most of them, especially Duterte’s allies, have been waiting for the President’s choice to take the helm of the lower chamber. (Editor: Katherine G. Adraneda)
