Cayetano, Velasco agree to retain committee leadership posts

In this file photo taken on July 23, 2019, Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano (left) and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco seal the term-sharing arrangement suggested by President Rodrigo Duterte for the speakership. INQUIRER file photo / JOAN BONDOC

MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco have both agreed that there will be no changes in committee chairmanships as well as other leadership posts in the House of Representatives amid the term-sharing agreement between them, a lawmaker disclosed Wednesday.

Oriental Mindoro Rep. Doy Leachon, a supporter of Velasco, made the remark in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel a day after news broke out that the Marinduque lawmaker will take over as House Speaker starting October 14, true to the term-sharing agreement.

“Kung mga chairmanship ang sinasabi ninyo, I think they both agreed also that there will be more or less no changes in the House leadership,” Leachon said when asked if there will be changes in House leadership once Velasco takes over.

(If we are talking about the chairmanship,  I think they both agreed also that there will be more or less no changes in the House leadership.)

Majority Leader Martin Romualdez will also finish his whole term, Leachon said.

But will this also apply to the deputy speaker posts, including those who have criticized Velasco amid the speakership row?

Leachon said: “As I said, it was in fact the position of the Speaker not to change the leadership. I think the Speaker told that he would want it that way and Cong Lord Velasco actually agreed on that.”

This, however, is contrary to Villafuerte’s allegations in a later interview.

According to Villafuerte, Velasco was already saying that he would change the appropriations committee chair from ACT-CIS Partylist Rep. Eric Yap to Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab.

Citing news reports, Villafuerte said that Velasco would also change the chairpersons of the legislative franchises committee as well as the good government and public accountability committee.

“Too early in the game, ill-advised. We are very sure that papalitan niya ang chairmanship kasi pinangakuan na niya ang mga kasama niya eh,” Villafuerte said.

(Too early in the game, ill-advised. We are very sure that he will change the chairmanship because he already promised his peers.)

To recall, in February, Cayetano claimed that Velasco is promising chairmanships and budget allocations to members of the lower chamber, saying that he received “verified” information regarding an “attempt” to oust him as Speaker.

Velasco denied the alleged plan to oust Cayetano, saying that he would follow the term-sharing deal.

EDV