Defensor to object motion to declare Speaker’s post vacant

MANILA, Philippines — Moves to declare the speakership vacant will find another stumbling block as Anakalusugan Partylist Rep. Mike Defensor vowed to once again make an objection should there be a motion to declare Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano’s post vacant on October 14.

“I will object. I will object if there is a motion. Batay na rin doon sa sinabi ko na noon pa,” Defensor told reporters in an interview Thursday, a day after majority of congressmen rejected Cayetano’s offer to resign in deference to the latter’s term-sharing agreement with Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco.

“In fact I’ve been open about it. Kung ano yung track record, kung ano yung sitwasyon natin ngayon, ano yung mga dapat gawin. On the base of all this, we should keep the leadership of Speaker Alan Cayetano,” he added.

An Inquirer source claimed that Velasco will take over as Speaker of the House of Representatives on October 14, following President Duterte’s intervention in the simmering feud.

The President met with Velasco and incumbent Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano in Malacanang in a bid to resolve his two allies’ differences over the leadership of the 300-member chamber.

However, Defensor said the first move on October 14, the expected speakership turnover date, should come from Velasco’s side.

Defensor said that should Velasco’s camp pursue the change of leadership, they should be the ones to declare Cayetano’s post vacant.

“Nag-offer na si Speaker Cayetano ng resignation kahapon. Sabi nga niya, ‘Sige kung gusto mo, hindi na sa October 14, ngayon pa lang, ibinibigay ko na sayo para ikaw na magtapos ng budget.’ So why would the Speaker do anything on the 14th?” Defensor said.

“They have two weeks, kausapin nila lahat ng tao, tignan nila kung paano. Talk to the Speaker for the transition, kausapin yung mga miyembro kung ano yung mga dapat gawin at pag-usapan. Kasi may dalawang linggo pa. At kung sa dalawang linggong yan ay nakumbinsi ang nakakarami na pwede na tayong mag-transisyon,” he added.

Under rules of the House, the position of Speaker may only be declared vacant through nominal voting by a majority vote of all the members.

“They have to move, someone will object, and then on the basis of that, magbibilangan ulit. Wala namang personalan ito e,” Defensor said.

During Wednesday’s session, Defensor initiated the motion to reject Cayetano’s resignation offer and following a nominal voting, 184 lawmakers voted for the motion—essentially denying the Speaker’s resignation.

Voting on an offer to resign, however, is not included in the rules of the House.

Section XIII of House rules states that “a vacancy is created whenever any of the officers dies, resigns, or is permanently incapacitated, or when the House declares any office vacant.”

“In case of death, resignation or permanent incapacity of the Speaker, an Acting Speaker chosen by a majority of the Deputy Speakers from among themselves, shall assume the duties of the Speaker until a new Speaker is elected,” the rules states.

EDV