MANILA, Philippines — Representatives from the ruling party PDP-Laban are set to meet with the camp of Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano on Thursday night to discuss the proposed term-sharing for House speakership with Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco.
Asked about how the term-sharing between Cayetano and PDP-Laban-backed House speaker hopeful Velasco, PDP-Laban president Senator Koko Pimentel said it would be discussed during the meeting.
“Yung details po would have to be threshed out. May meeting ngayong gabi. Di ko lang alam yung venue pero may meeting ngayong gabi… between PDP-Laban representatives and [former] Senator Cayetano and his representatives precisely for the details,” Pimentel said during the Kapihan sa Senado.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier pushed for a term-sharing for House speakership between Cayetano and Velasco, with the former assuming the post first.
Pimentel said Duterte’s decision is a “good proposal” despite their initial call for Velasco to assume the post first.
“Good proposal so the issue can be resolved. Malapit na July 22,” Pimentel said in a text message.
“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.
READ: Cayetano, Velasco term-sharing a ‘good proposal’ — Pimentel
Voting for the new Speaker is set to before Duterte delivers his State of the Nation Address (Sona) on July 22 after Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ended her third and final House term last June 30. /muf