Cayetano, Velasco term-sharing a ‘good proposal’ — Pimentel

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Koko Pimentel on Monday welcomed President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to push for Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco to share their term as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Pimentel, who serves as the president of ruling party PDP-Laban which backed Velasco’s bid for the Speaker, said Duterte’s decision is “a good proposal.”

“Good proposal so the issue can be resolved. Malapit na July 22,” Pimentel said in a text message.

The voting for the new Speaker is set to happen before Duterte delivers his State of the Nation Address (Sona) on July 22 after incumbent Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ended her third and final House term last June 30.

While Pimentel admitted that their camp had prepared their own term-sharing proposal, he still welcomed Duterte’s decision.

“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!” Pimentel said.

Duterte made the announcement on Monday afternoon, adding that fellow Speakership candidate Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez will serve as the House majority leader.

“I think it’s about time I talk. Your Speaker will be Alan Peter Cayetano. He will share the term with Lord Velasco and si Romualdez will be the majority floor leader,” Duterte said.

READ: Duterte pushes for Cayetano-Velasco term-sharing for Speaker

Pimentel earlier said that should the term-sharing for Speaker push through, Velasco should sit as Speaker first “since he already has an overwhelming number of members of Congress supporting him.”

READ: Speaker race: PDP-Laban open to term sharing, wants Velasco to sit first