LOOK: Velasco supporters hold session amid speakership row

MANILA, Philippines — The supporters of Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco hold their own session at the Celebrity Sports Complex in Quezon City amid the speakership row with House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano.

At the beginning of the session, Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, citing the Constitution and rules of the lower chamber, pointed out that a majority of House members, constituting a quorum, can resume the session.

Rodriguez also said that a majority of members in attendance can also hold sessions outside the regularly designated session halls pursuant to the Constitution.

Velasco’s supporters gathered following a manifesto calling the House to assemble, declare House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano’s post vacant, and elect the Marinduque lawmaker as speaker.

In an earlier statement, however, Deputy Speaker Neptali Gonzales II said that the gathering of Velasco’s supporters is a “rump and illegal session” where the rules of the House will not apply.

Gonzales argued that House session is suspended until November 16 and that there is no authority from the plenary for the lower chamber to reconvene on Monday, October 12.

“Unlike in the Batangas session, there is no plenary resolution authorizing to hold session in any other place other than in the Plenary in Batasan, contrary to the Constitution,” Gonzales said, referring to the lower chamber’s session in Batangas amid Taal Volcano’s eruption earlier this year.

“All the maces, old and official, are currently in the possession and safekeeping of the [Sergeant-at-Arms]. These prove that what they are doing is clearly a rump and illegal session where the Rules of the House will not apply and can not be used,” the House leader added.

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