Manila — With barely a month left in his term, moves to oust House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano are expected to mount within the day, after Deputy Speaker Paolo Duterte threatened to declare the post vacant due to 2021 budget clash among lawmakers.
Over the weekend, the presidential son echoed the sentiments of his fellow congressmen who were disappointed “over the fate of their respective allocations” under the current House leadership.
Duterte issued a statement on Sunday, confirming an earlier text message that he had sent to one of his colleagues that stirred speculations of a brewing House shakeup to boot Cayetano out of office.
“The text message that I sent to another lawmaker — and is now making the rounds — was an expression of my personal dismay upon hearing the concerns of my fellow lawmakers,” Duterte said.
Duterte was referring to his own strongly-worded message which indicated that he will declare the speakership and deputy speakership posts vacant today, September 21.
That message, which he himself said was intended for Appropriations committee chair Eric Yap last week, read: “Sinabihan ko na kayo nananahimik lang ako kasi di na ako kinakausap nina Speaker ngayon nadamay ako. I will ask the Mindanao bloc to declare the seat of the Speaker and Deputy Speakers vacant ngayong Monday. Di mamamatay ang Mindanao dahil walang budget.”
[Translation: I already told you, I am just keeping silent because the Speaker’s camp is not talking to me anymore, and now I am suddenly dragged into this. I will ask the Mindanao Bloc to declare the seat of Speaker and Deputy Speakers vacant this Monday.]
Duterte said in his latest statement that lawmakers “have the power to change the course of which the leadership is leading them,” and that he himself is willing to accept being part of the “casualties” or deputy speakers who may be removed from office. He also said that he did not want to get involved in the leadership clash.
“If the members of Congress will push for a change in House leadership, as a reaction to their sentiments, obviously I would be among the casualties because I am a deputy speaker. I am ready to accept the consequences.”
A motion to call for the ouster may be made when lawmakers convene for a plenary session in the afternoon.
Last week’s budget hearing of the Department of Public Works and Highways first led to a clash between some lawmakers over the “inequitable” allocation of infrastructure projects in their districts. Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. claimed that Taguig City alone, Cayetano’s turf, will get ₱8 billion.
Cayetano has yet to finish his 15-month term which will end on October 18. Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco will then take over and finish the remaining 21 months of speakership under their three-year term deal. (via CNN Philippines)
