Sara Duterte’s Hugpong ng Pagbabago backs House speakership term-sharing pact

LOOK: Rep. Velasco met with the President’s daughter, Mayor Sara Duterte, in Davao, according to Velasco camp, which says this picture was taken on Friday evening. There’s buzz that the mayor has made moves to ensure term-sharing deal will be completed. | @deejayapINQ pic.twitter.com/CgPEXc6ryj

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) October 11, 2020

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte affirmed the Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) party’s support of the term-sharing agreement in the House of Representatives after meeting with Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco.

Duterte said that during their meeting last week, Velasco sought for her help in securing the votes of three HNP congressmen from the Davao region in his speakership bid.

The Davao City mayor serves as HNP chairperson.

“Congressman Velasco came to Davao City to personally meet me and discuss Hugpong Ng Pagbabago. He intimated that there will be a Speakership vote and he sought for my help, as the chairperson of HNP, with regard to the votes of the three HNP Congressmen from Davao region,” Duterte said in a statement.

“I told him that HNP was created to propel unity and development in Davao region and assist the administration of President Duterte,” she added.

Duterte, in return, said HNP will respect the agreement between Velasco and House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano.

The mayor, however, did not comment on reports that she had been calling allies in Congress to back Velasco’s bid for the speakership.

“I also emphasized that HNP will respect the term-sharing agreement as ordered by the President last year and reiterated that the party fully supports Presidential Proclamation 1027,” Duterte said.

Presidential Proclamation 1027 contains President Rodrigo Duterte’s call to Congress for a special session to tackle the proposed 2021 budget after its unexpected approval amid the speakership war.

The meeting between Velasco and Mayor Duterte happened on Friday amid reports that the mayor has made moves to ensure term-sharing deal will be completed.

Duterte confirmed the meeting just as Velasco’s camp released a manifesto, which was said to be  signed by 187 lawmakers, calling for the House of Representatives to assemble, declare the post of Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano vacant, and elect the Marinduque lawmaker speaker on Monday, saying that the lower chamber needs a leader with a heart of a public servant, and not with a heart of a tyrant.”

“Therefore, in accordance with Section 13, Rule 3 of the Rules of the House of Representatives, of the 18th Congress, we call to assemble, move to and cast our vote to declare the position of Speaker VACANT on Monday, October 12, 2020,” the lawmakers said in the manifesto.

“Further, also in accordance with the same Section, we will move to and cast our vote to declare Representative Lord Allan Velasco of Marinduque as Speaker of the House of Representatives of the 18th Congress,” they added.

The lawmakers pointed out the recent “unceremonious” termination of the deliberations and the eventual approval of House Bill No. 7727 or the General Appropriations Bill (GAB), which contains the proposed national budget for 2021, even if the proposed funding of more than 20 government agencies and executive offices have yet to be scrutinized.

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