Cayetano allies now on Velasco’s side, says Romero

MANILA, Philippines — Allies of former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano have jumped ship and are now on the side of recently-installed Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, Deputy Speaker Mikee Romero bared Wednesday.

Romero told reporters that the lawmakers who went to Velasco’s faction come from the National Unity Party (NUP) and Nacionalista Party (NP), which used to back Cayetano’s leadership at the lower chamber.

He claimed that “[i]n fact, today, the votes for Speaker Lord Allan Velasco swelled already to about 240” – more than the 186 lawmakers who voted Monday to elect the Marinduque representative as Speaker and who eventually ratified his election the next day.

“Today, October 14, the vote tally is now 240 dahil sumama na sa atin ang Lakas, ang Liberal Party, ang NUP and NP. So we have the complete manifest for that,” Romero added.

Senior Deputy Speaker Doy Leachon said Velasco met with NP and NUP lawmakers on Wednesday afternoon.

“It’s very clear and apparent, in fact, it was even declared in his statement before the nation yesterday, that he would like to lend a hand to the previous leadership,” Leachon said.

“So it’s one way of dealing with that, extending a hand and expecting cooperation from the different parties not only from the allies but also from NUP and NP,” he added.

The new Speaker likewise met with the House Minority bloc and Makabayan bloc on Wednesday afternoon, according to Velasco’s office.

KGA