‘Muted’ Atienza says Cayetano ‘violated rules’ during plenary debate

MANILA, Philippines — Buhay Partylist Rep. Lito Atienza on Tuesday accused Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano of violating House rules when he was purportedly muted while trying to object the unexpected second-reading approval of the proposed 2021 national budget as well as the suspension of the session until November 16.

In photos shared with the media, Atienza can be seen holding a piece of paper with the words “I object” in an apparent bid to register his voice during the House plenary session. He participated in the session via video conferencing.

The photo also shows that “the host is not allowing participants to unmute themselves.”

https://twitter.com/NAMercadoINQ/status/1313401893545103360

This happened after Cayetano delivered a speech before his colleagues where he talked about the national budget and the speakership row between him and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco.

Cayetano then moved to terminate the period of debates on House Bill No. 7727 or the General Appropriations Bill. Further, a panel was also created to entertain committee and individual amendments, consequently terminating the period of amendments.

With the period of debates and amendments closed, the House approved on second reading the proposed P4.5 trillion national budget for 2021.

This was immediately followed by a suspension of the session until November 16, “in accordance with the legislative calendar,” which means that the session was postponed before the expected speakership showdown between Cayetano and Velasco on October 14 where House members are expected to vote and elect a leader of the House of Representatives.

The events during Tuesday’s session, Atienza said, “proves beyond doubt that Speaker Cayetano is desperately hanging on” his post.

“He has just publicly confirmed that he is losing ground, that’s why he did it,” Atienza said in a statement.

“He didn’t care about Constitutional integrity, throwing everything into the air and making Congress go on a long vacation. Ginulo niya lahat and he violated all the rules of the House,” the lawmaker added.

Atienza said many lawmakers were objecting “at the top of our voices but again, we were muted on Zoom and all our objections were thrown out the window.”

“This is typical of a poor loser – ‘Pag natatalo ka na, guluhin mo na lang ang mesa, sunugin mo na lang ang bahay ika nga,” Atienza said.

KGA