Divine intervention: Chavit Singson’s brother emerges as Alan Cayetano’s successor, sidelining Lord Velasco– again

Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Jay Velasco’s dream of becoming Speaker may never become a reality despite the term sharing deal brokered by President Rodrigo Duterte between him and House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano.

A well-placed source in the House of Representatives told Politiko that Probinsyano Ako party-list Rep. Jose “Bonito” Singson Jr. is being pushed as Cayetano’s replacement as Speaker.

Politiko’s source said Singson, whose brother is Narvacan, Ilocos Sur Mayor Luis “Chavit” Singson, already has the support of the Northern Luzon Alliance, one of the largest political blocs in the House.

Chavit is behind his brother’s bid to run for Speaker, the source said, and is actively talking to power blocs in the House to support Bonito in case of a leadership shakeup.

“I thought Chavit was joking when he said he wants his brother to be Speaker, but he’s serious about it,” Politiko’s source said.

The source said Bonito’s speakership bid is tied to Senator Manny Pacquiao’s rumored plan to run for president in 2022.

“Pacquiao’s supporters seriously want him to run for president in 2022 so they want to consolidate their forces in the House as early as now,” Politiko’s source said.

Given Chavit’s clout, it’s no surprise why Bonito is the more attractive choice to replace Cayetano as Speaker over Velasco, a two-term lawmaker whose highest position in the House is chairmanship of the Energy Committee.

Velasco is supposed to succeed Cayetano as Speaker under the “15-21” term sharing agreement, which involves Cayetano leaving his post in October this year after 15 months of speakership.

The son of retired Supreme Court associate justice and now Marinduque Governor Presbitero Velasco Jr. will serve as Speaker for the remaining 21 months of the 18th Congress under the deal.

There have been indications, however, that the term sharing deal may not push through.

Last March, Cayetano tagged Velasco as the mastermind of an alleged ouster plot aimed at removing him as Speaker before his 15-month term ends. Velasco and his supporters denied planning a coup.

The rumor prompted some lawmakers to propose scrapping the term sharing deal and instead choose among themselves who should be the Speaker.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)