Giving up post not a problem, says Cayetano

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said he would not give President Duterte any problem regarding the top post in the House of Representatives, which is the subject of a term-sharing deal.

Cayetano was supposed to relinquish the post after 15 months to give way to Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, another ally of President Duterte.

The President was reported as saying that it was going to be a problem if Cayetano refuses to honor the deal, though the chief executive also noted that this was a hypothetical situation.

Duterte brokered the term-sharing deal between Cayetano and Velasco as his two allies squabbled for key positions in the House following the May 2019 elections.

“I am here not to give the President a problem, but to solve the problem,” Cayetano said.

“Whatever the President says, as a member of the coalition [in the House], I will follow,” he added.

Cayetano said the idea of him staying on as Speaker beyond 15 months only arose when some of his allies broached it after the House got good ratings and was able to pass the budget on time. The members were also happy with the chairmanship positions they got, he said.

But he would always follow what Duterte wants, and there’s no reason for anyone to think that there was a problem, the House Speaker said.