Duterte: Cayetano not honoring term-sharing pact will be a ‘problem’

MANILA, Philippines — There would be a “problem” if House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano does not honor the term-sharing agreement with Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, President Rodrigo Duterte has warned.

“I was there when we agreed, three of us, and I announced it after. He does not want to honor it. That’s his problem,” Duterte said in an exclusive interview over GMA’s 24 Oras on Monday.

“It is going to be a problem so we will solve the problem when we are there. Wala pa naman, it remains to be hypothetical,” he added.

Lawmakers at the House of Representatives earlier said Cayetano’s high trust and approval rating from a September Pulse Asia survey may prompt House members to support his stay as Speaker.

Cayetano, Velasco, and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez had been locked in a rivalry for the speakership after the three lawmakers, known allies of Duterte, have expressed their desire to get the top House post.

On July 9, the President opted a term-sharing between Cayetano and Velasco to end the squabbling among his allies at the House.

The President said Cayetano would serve as Speaker in the first 15 months of the 18th Congress while Velasco will succeed to serve for the remaining 21 months.

Romualdez was named as House majority leader.

Cayetano has told reporters about the possibility of serving as Speaker for full three years if Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco gives way to him.

But he also said that Duterte has the final say.

Edited by KGA