Velasco denies hatching plot to oust Cayetano

MANILA, Philippines — Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco on Thursday denied reports of a supposed plot to oust Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, with whom he has a term-sharing deal.

“I am issuing this statement to once and for all end baseless reports attributed to unnamed sources and sly innuendos being peddled by certain camps with vested interests within and outside the halls of Congress on the supposed “coup plan” to change the leadership of the House of Representatives,” Velasco said in a statement.

“The reports were meant to create deep division within the House of Representatives and its members, destroy camaraderie, distract lawmakers from fulfilling their mandate, and more importantly, derail the key legislative agenda of the Duterte Administration,” he added.

Velasco maintained that he is honoring the term-sharing deal between him and Cayetano.

“Up to this day, I continue to honor the term-sharing agreement brokered by no less than President Rodrigo Duterte when the 18th Congress convened in July 2019. From the beginning, I never had any intention of reneging on this agreement. Tayo po ay lalaking may isang salita,” Velasco said.

Cebu City 1st District Rep. Raul del Mar also earlier said that there is no ouster plot against Cayetano.

Cayetano earlier reportedly claimed his critics are using ABS-CBN’s franchise to oust him from the speakership.

President Duterte had opted for a term-sharing arrangement between Cayetano and Velasco.

Cayetano will serve as Speaker for 15 months, after which he would yield the Speakership to Velasco.

Cayetano is set to step down from his post in October.

Meanwhile, ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal is still in limbo as Congress has yet to tackle the renewal of its franchise, which is set to lapse in March.

But a joint resolution has already been filed before Congress seeking to extend the network’s franchise until 2022.

 GSG