Cayetano on resignation: I go now with a clear conscience

MANILA, Philippines —With the speakership row drawing to a close, Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano said Tuesday he is leaving his post as Speaker of the House with a “clear conscience” and with “no regrets.”

In a Facebook post, Cayetano repeated his earlier resignation announcement, with Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco taking over the post.

“Today, given the untenable political situation that Congress has been placed, and the possible damage to the country if the 2021 budget is not passed on time – I take his admonition to put aside all politics and focus on the budget to heart, and with this, tender my irrevocable resignation as Speaker of the House of Representatives effective immediately,” Cayetano said.

“I go now with a clear conscience. I have done my best, I have given my all, I leave with no regrets, and I hold no rancor in my heart towards anyone,” he added.

The resigned Speaker also called on to the public to remain vigilant to ensure that public officials “live up to the oaths we have taken” as he urged his colleagues to “restore the dignity of Congress as an institution and as a symbol of democracy, and right the wrongs that have been made in the name of partisan politics.”

“Congress has recently made huge headways in pushing for greater transparency and accountability in the crafting of our laws, let us not allow this to be for nothing,” Cayetano said.

The resigned House Speaker then thanked those who stood by his side, saying, “we have fought the good fight, but there must only be one victor – which must be the Filipino people.”

“I apologize for not being able to talk to each of you in person, but as I free you from your commitments to me, I stand by those I have made to you. I will fight for you with the same intensity that you have for me,” Cayetano said.

“And as I join you now in the trenches, I hope that you will welcome me as warmly as when I was Speaker now that I no longer am. It is a reality in politics, that sometimes knowing when to fold on a good hand is more important than winning the whole pot,” he added.

Cayetano announced his resignation from his post while Velasco’s speakership election was being ratified.

In July 2019, President Rodrigo Duterte announced that a term-sharing agreement would take place between Velasco and Cayetano.

Under the agreement, Cayetano would serve as Speaker in the first 15 months of the 18th Congress before he would be succeeded by Velasco who would serve for the next 21 months.

JE