Duterte wants House to pass budget bill, set politics aside — Palace

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte   (SIMEON CELI/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte urged the House of Representatives to set aside politics and pass the proposed budget for 2021, Malacañang said Monday.

“‘Natagam na ako.’ Natagam is the Visayan word for nadala na ako. Yan po ang verbatim na sinabi ng Presidente noong siya’y nanawagan sa mga Kongresista natin na isantabi po ang pulitika,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an online briefing.

Roque said this as supporters of Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco gathered in a Quezon City venue to oust Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano.

“Let’s just say dala na siya sa pulitika na nangyayari sa Kamara de Representante. (He is fed up with politics in the House of Representatives). He just wants the work to be done. He wants the budget to be passed,” Roque said.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque/ Screenshot from PCOO Facebook video

“Any talks of the speakership will delay the passage of the 2021 budget,” he stressed.

Concerns about the delay in passing the 2021 budget hounded Congress after Cayetano moved to suspend sessions at the House until November 16 after approving on second-reading the proposed spending measure for next year.

With the lower chamber suspending its session until November 16 and the spending bill approved only on second reading, the budget bill will not reach the Senate before it goes on break on October 17.

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco

This prompted the President to call Congress to a special session from October 13 to 16 and to certify the budget measure for 2021 as urgent.

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