MANILA – Allies from across party lines has elected Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco as the new speaker of the House of Representatives after booting out rival Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano.
In a gathering at the Celebrity Sports Plaza in Quezon City on Monday, BUHAY Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza moved to unseat Cayetano and called for a nominal voting to install Velasco.
After moving for the vacancy of House speakership, former deputy speaker Mikee Romero, Rizal Rep. Michael John “Jack” Duavit, Oriental Mindoro Rep. Salvador Leachon, Ilocos Sur Rep. Kristine Singsong-Meehon, Negros Occidental Rep. Kiko Benitez, among others, nominated Velasco, who gathered the votes of 186 congressmen in total.
“Whether famine, feast, poverty, or plenty, a leader will always rise to the challenge and respond to the call of service,” Velasco said. “Party leaders at mambabatas, naniniwala sa ating kausa at adhikain para sa isang kongreso na tunay para sa tao, hindi sa iilan lang.”
“I accept this once in a lifetime challenge to serve as speaker of the House of Representatives in the 18th Congress. To my fellow Filipinos, I will not let you down,” he added.
Velasco added that he is extending his hand to Cayetano hoping that the latter “would be amenable to sit down with me as we comply with the term-sharing agreement.” He also ensured the timely passage of the 2021 proposed national budget under his term.
Apart from Velasco, also elected were Atty. Jocelia Bighani Sipin as new House secretary general and former Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group director Mao Aplasca as Sergeant-at-Arms.
Tensions escalated in the past weeks as Cayetano was supposed to vacate the top seat in line with his prescribed 15 months in power, but he suspended plenary sessions until next month./PN
