House remains ‘independent’ amid Duterte intervention on Speaker race–solon

Albay Rep. Joey Salceda during the weekly Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum on Wednesday (July 17, 2018). INQUIRER.net photo / Christia Marie Ramos

MANILA, Philippines — Albay Rep. Joey Salceda on Wednesday maintained that the House of Representatives remains an “independent” body even after President Rodrigo Duterte proposed an arrangement on the lower chamber’s leadership.

“Hindi naman sa—if every time we move—nagpapaalam kami or it’s because of a direct instruction from the President,” Salceda said in a weekly press forum in Manila on Wednesday.

“We define independence as the ability to provide inputs to the President, to the people and to other instruments of society…I think we’re free. There is democratic space,” he added.

Salceda issued the statement following criticisms that the independence of the House had been compromised when some if its members called on Duterte to endorse his bet for the chamber’s top post.

READ: Gordon hits congressmen for seeking Duterte intervention on speakership 

READ: Duterte ends speakership squabble 

The President endorsed Cayetano, his vice presidential running mate during the national elections in 2016, as the next House speaker after the Chief Executive had earlier distanced himself from the speakership race.

READ: Panelo: Duterte won’t meddle in Speaker race 

Cayetano, Duterte suggested, would share the three-year term with Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco while Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, another Speaker aspirant, would be the Majority Leader.

All allies of the President, the three have been locked in a House leadership rivalry following the conclusion of the midterm elections in May.

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

The congressmen are expected to vote on the House leadership posts prior to the President’s State of the Address (Sona on July 22.

Last year, the Sona took a dramatic turn when moments before Duterte delivers his address, Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez was booted out of the House Speakership.

READ: Behind the scenes: Why Alvarez kept seat next to Duterte in #SONA2018 

Former President and now outgoing Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo replaced Alvarez as Speaker then. /jpv