Duterte meets with Cayetano after solons reject his resignation

File photo of Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and President Rodrigo Duterte.

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte met with House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano anew on Wednesday after the House of Representatives rejected the latter’s offer to resign from his post amid the speakership squabble.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the meeting was scheduled two weeks ago by Rep. Eddie Villanueva to “pray over” the chief executive.

“Nagkataon lamang po na ang pangyayari sa Kamara kahapon ay nangyari doon sa scheduled meeting sa panig ni Deputy Speaker Brother Eddie Villanueva at ni Presidente. Pero ang main dahilan po doon ay para i-pray over ang ating Presidente na nangyari naman po,” Roque said in an online briefing.

(It was a coincidence that what happened in Congress yesterday coincided with the scheduled meeting of Deputy Speaker Brother Eddie Villanueva and the President. But the main reason is to pray over the President which happened.)

Also present at the meeting were Cayetano’s wife Taguig Rep. Lani Cayetano and his sister Senator Pia Cayetano, Roque added.

On Tuesday night, Duterte likewise, met with Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Alan Velasco amid the term-sharing tussle.

The next day, Cayetano offered to resign as Speaker but some 184 lawmakers rejected this move.

Under the agreement the President endorsed in 2019, Cayetano will serve as Speaker for the first 15 months or up to October this year while Velasco will serve as Speaker in the remaining months.

With the House lawmakers already deciding on the speakership issue, Roque said the President will respect this as an internal matter of the lower chamber.