In this file photo taken on July 23, 2019, Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano (left) and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco seal the term-sharing arrangement suggested by President Rodrigo Duterte for the speakership. INQUIRER file photo / JOAN BONDOC
MANILA, Philippines — The speakership battle is finally over and it was Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco who emerged victorious.
One hundred and eighty six lawmakers have elected Velasco as the new leader of the House of Representatives and on Tuesday the House ratified his election.
INQUIRER.net looks back at how the speakership fight went down:
SEPTEMBER 17, 2020
Talks of the speakership issue resurface when several lawmakers question the distribution of public work funds to congressional districts in the 2021 national budget.
As the House tackles the 2021 budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways, Negros Oriental 3rd Dist. Rep. Arnolfo Teves questions the “disparity” of funds between congressional districts, particularly those of Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and his ally Deputy Speaker Luis Raymund Villafuerte in Taguig City and Camarines Sur, respectively.
In response, Villafuerte says Teves’ questioning is part of a “sinister ploy” of the Velasco camp to “wreck” the commitment to fast-track the approval of the 2021 budget.
However, Teves insists that his questioning is not related to the term-sharing agreement.
SEPTEMBER 20, 2020
The infighting between congressmen on the 2021 budget prompts presidential son and Deputy Speaker Paolo Duterte to threaten to declare as vacant the positions of Speaker and Deputy Speakers when the session resumes on Sept. 21
SEPTEMBER 21, 2020
House holds brief session that lasts for only 20 minutes, so Paolo Duterte is not able to declare the two top positions vacant. Cayetano remains Speaker.
SEPTEMBER 28, 2020
Over 200 lawmakers sign a manifesto backing the continued speakership of Cayetano.
SEPTEMBER 29, 2020
Velasco and Cayetano meet with President Rodrigo Duterte to discuss the speakership.
After the meeting, sources tell Inquirer that Velasco is set to take over the speakership on Oct. 14.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2020
Cayetano offers to resign as Speaker during the plenary debates on the 2021 budget. A total of 184 lawmakers reject Cayetano’s offer of resignation.
OCTOBER 1, 2020
Velasco accuses the then incumbent Speaker of holding the national budget hostage.
Cayetano also meets with President Duterte. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque says the meeting is just a coincidence and was scheduled two weeks before by Rep. Eddie Villanueva to “pray over” the chief executive
OCTOBER 6, 2020
In answer to Velasco’s accusation that he is holding the budget hostage, Cayetano moves to approve the 2021 budget on second reading, and is carried by the House.
The House then suspends the session until Nov. 16, a move many consider is a deflection from the supposed Oct. 14 takeover.
OCTOBER 12, 2020
Due to the suspension of session, Velasco’s camp is forced to hold a session outside the Batasang Pambansa Complex to unseat Cayetano and elect the Marinduque lawmaker as new Speaker.
Cayetano refuses to recognize Velasco’s election as legitimate, calling the session “fake.”
His office likewise releases a manifesto showing 200 lawmakers backing his continued leadership.
OCTOBER 13, 2020
One hundred and eighty six lawmakers vote to ratify the election of Velasco, effectively ousting Cayetano.
Cayetano concedes the speakership fight and tenders his irrevocable resignation.