Velasco cites Sara Duterte’s crucial role in election for speakership

MANILA, Philippines — Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco admitted on Monday that the support of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte was a “big push” in his fight to wrest the speakership from his rival, Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano.

“I believe Mayor Sara Duterte is really a big help. We know the influence that Ma’am Sara has and I think that was a big push in my election as House Speaker,” Velasco said in a TV interview.

Under the term-sharing deal brokered by President Duterte in 2019, Cayetano was to lead the House of Representatives for the first 15 months of the 18th Congress then Velasco would take over for the next 21 months.

Cayetano, however, insisted on staying as Speaker, citing the “overwhelming” support of his colleagues and the need to pass the 2021 national budget. He was eventually ousted after 186 lawmakers voted in favor of Velasco.

Earlier, Velasco met with the Davao City mayor, chair of Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) party, to seek her support for the top House post.

“Definitely, I believe that Mayor Inday Sara really has a lot of influence not only in Congress but in a lot of areas also. With the party of HNP joining or endorsing my speakership, definitely I believe it was a tipping point,” he said.

This was not the first time Sara was involved in the ouster of the top House leader. In 2018, President Duterte admitted that Sara was behind the replacement of Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez by then Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Velasco claimed that he had secured the support of 95 percent of the House despite Cayetano’s earlier warning that he would be ousted within a week of assuming his post.
“As of today, the supermajority has 286 members. That comprises already 95 percent of the members of the House,” he said.

Earlier, Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. stepped down from his post as House minority leader and joined the majority bloc.

Abante and Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo will get key posts.

Velasco said Mikey would take over as chair of the House energy committee. He was still evaluating what post to give Abante.

“I will be giving the post to Cong. Mikey Arroyo mainly because he’s the senior vice chair right now,” Velasco said.

Mikey belongs to Lakas-CMD.

Lakas-CMD was seen as the “swing vote” in the power struggle for the speakership between Velasco and Cayetano.

In 2018, Velasco supported Mikey’s mother Gloria when she was elected to lead the House, following the ouster of Alvarez.

Velasco said he talked to party leaders of Lakas-CMD in winning over the party’s support for his speakership bid. —With a report from Julie M. Aurelio INQ