Paolo Duterte distances self from speakership row

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential son and Deputy Speaker Paolo Duterte is distancing himself from the ongoing speakership showdown between his “two good friends” Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco.

While Velasco has the right to claim the speakership due to the term-sharing deal between him and Cayetano, Duterte also pointed out that “a considerable number” of lawmakers have shown support for the incumbent Speaker.

“As I am all for a unified House, and given the value I place in every member of Congress, I refuse to make any statement that will favor or damage either of my two good friends who are both asserting their right to be our speaker,” he said.

Under the term-sharing agreement, Cayetano will sit as House Speaker for the first 15 months of the 18th Congress, while Velasco would succeed him in the remaining 21 months.

Velasco was set to take over on Oct. 14, however, in a move unforeseen by many, the lower chamber suspended session until Nov. 16, preventing the Marinduque solon from seizing the speakership.

The House likewise approved the 2021 national budget bill on second reading.

Duterte said he is “saddened” that the House is “currently mired” in the speakership row between Cayetano and Velasco, making the chamber divided.

“Due to this issue on the term-sharing agreement, Congress is currently mired in what seems to be a battle between two people I’m close with,” Duterte said.

“I am saddened that it has come to this —a House divided. And if we remain a House divided, we will fail in our mandate to serve the people as their representatives,” he added.

To recall, Duterte earlier threatened to declare the posts of Speaker and Deputy Speakers vacant after his name was dragged into the speakership issue in relation to the 2021 national budget.

However, this did not happen.

The whole speakership issue resurfaced after some lawmakers questioned the distribution of public works funds among congressional districts in the 2021 budget,

If and when the House leadership will come to a vote, Duterte said he hopes lawmakers will vote for someone “not just for convenience or affiliation, but whom we feel strongly can represent the House with the dignity that it deserves.”

He asked his colleagues to remain respectful to one another and support whoever is chosen to lead the House.

“I hope we can go beyond politics and remember that more than power, it is the relationships we’ve formed in these halls of Congress and our duties to the people, that matter most,” Duterte said.

/MUF