Reps. Alan Peter Cayetano and Lord Allan Velasco. FILE PHOTOS
MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano may want to be a part of the solution or remain the problem, Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, who refused to throw in the towel in the leadership row at the House of Representatives, said Friday.
In an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel, Velasco urged Cayetano anew to honor the term-sharing agreement, an issue that has been hounding the lower house of Congress.
“The ball is in his hands. He may be want to be a part of the solution or he can remain the problem,” Velasco said when asked if he has any message for Cayetano.
Velasco said the deal was even put in writing and signed when they finalized it in 2019, saying that it was even Cayetano’s idea to have it written down.
“Ang masama dito sinasama pa ang Diyos tapos at the end of the agreement, kapag time is up na, ayaw sumunod,” Velasco said.
“Ang pinapahabol ko lang, yung palabra de honor and I am sure the president also has his word. He knows how to keep his word,” he said.
“Sa amin dito sa Congress, ito yung pinanghahawakan namin, yung palabra de honor. If we can’t keep our words, our promises na bnibigay gamin, paano tao pagkakatiwalaan ng publiko?” the Marinduque lawmaker added.
The lawmaker said he is still open to sitting down with Cayetano to settle House issues, particularly the passage of the budget.
To recall, in an unexpected move, Cayetano made a motion to terminate deliberations on the proposed 2021 budget, and with the period of debates and amendments closed, the budget was approved on second reading.
Consequently, the session was suspended until November 16, meaning there would be no session on October 14 when Velasco was supposed to take the helm.
This drew the ire of President Rodrigo Duterte who warned House members to immediately resolve the budget impasse or else he would take matters into his own hands.
“Gusto ko lang sabihin in one straight statement: Either you resolve the issue sa impasse ninyo diyan and pass the budget legally and constitutionally, kapag hindi ninyo ginawa, ako ang gagawa para sa inyo,” Duterte said in a taped speech aired Thursday evening.
“Hindi ako nananakot. Wala akong ambisyong manakot. Wala din akong ambisyong magtagal sa pwestong pu**** ****g ito na puro problema. Wala akong hangarin,” he added.
Velasco, for his part, said that he would wait for what the opinion of the majority when asked if there would be any “surprises” on October 14.
“Let’s see what the will of the majority would say. I always follow the will of the majority. Let’s wait,” Velasco said.