MANILA – Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano has branded the “election” of Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco as the new speaker of the House of Representatives as “a very disturbing precedent.”
In a Facebook live video on Monday, Cayetano said the proceedings were conducted illegally outside Batasang Pambansa to derail deliberations on the proposed P4.5 trillion national budget for 2021.
“Ang purpose nila, manggulo. The last time I checked, ang Celebrity Sports Club ay hindi Kongreso. They are throwing the Constitution to waste. Fake session ang ginagawa nila,” Cayetano said.
“This is a very disturbing precedent. Sabi nila, basta may quorum, they can meet any day and anywhere and do whatever they want. Kung valid ‘yan, banana republic na tayo,” he added.
Cayetano then warned that he will never allow Velasco and his camp to mess around with the scheduled budget deliberations on Oct. 13 to 16.
“I will not allow you to burn this House down. I love this institution. Marami na akong Goliath na kinalaban,” Cayetano stressed. “The rules are the rules, the Constitution is the Constitution. No one can change that.”
“Kung ang gagawin niyo, ipapasa ang budget, magkakampi tayo. Ang gagawin niyo, papalitan lang ako, hindi ako hahadlang. But you try to burn this House down, you are in for one hell of a fight,” he added.
Meanwhile, Malacanang said President Rodrigo Duterte is fed up with the speakership drama and appealed for the passage of the 2021 budget before pulling other political maneuvers.
“Ang sinabi po talaga ni Presidente: natagam, dalang-dala na ako sa pulitika,” Palace said in a briefing. “Any talk of speakership will delay the passage of the 2021 budget.”
Duterte called for a special session today until Friday for the House to finish plenary debates and pass the proposed national budget before Congress goes on a month-long break./PN
