Pinagbigyan for 2nd time! Duterte allows Cayetano to stay until House passes budget but he must honor pact with Velasco

President Rodrigo Duterte is reportedly willing to let Speaker Alan Cayetano stay in his seat longer but he is adamant the Bible-quoting politiko must honor his term-sharing deal to transfer power to Marinduque Rep. Lord Velasco.

This was revealed by a Politiko source who noted that this was the second time that the President has given Cayetano a favor.

READ: Canfeeermed! Duterte to meet with Cayetano, Velasco to settle speakership

The source revealed that Cayetano did not have the votes to win as Speaker at the start of the 18th Congress as the leading contenders then were Velasco and Majority Leader Martin Romualdez.

READ: Thank you Bebot! Digong, Sara mobilize forces for Velasco’s takeover after Alvarez backs Cayetano

The source said Duterte gave in to Cayetano’s appeal to be Speaker as a favor considering that Cayetano was his running mate in the 2016 elections (where he placed a poor third).

READ: Hanggang Sept 30 ka lang! Velasco insists Cayetano follow term sharing agreement

But Duterte could only give Cayetano a half-term in the post because he also promised to back Velasco as Speaker.

The source said Duterte tweaked the term-sharing pact he brokered between Cayetano and Velasco in May 2019 in response to Cayetano’s appeal to stay until the 2021 budget has passed.

Cayetano had warned that a Speakership change in the middle of budget deliberation could scuttle Duterte’s spending plans next year.

Cayetano had previously agreed to leave the Speakership after 15 months in office or by October 2020. But since the coronavirus pandemic has delayed the passage of the 2021 budget, Cayetano used this as an excuse to stay longer in office before giving way to Velasco.

Cayetano, citing sentimental reasons, said he wanted to celebrate his 50th birthday as Speaker on October 28.

The current 18th Congress will go on recess on October 14 and will return on November 16. It’s possible that the budget could be passed before the month-long or break.

If not, Cayetano could stay one or two months to shepherd the budget, the source said.

This means that Cayetano could end up staying up to 18 months in office, the same period as Velasco.

The source said the President was unwavering in his stand that Cayetano has to honor his pact with Velasco and that he would not give him any more favors or extension after the budget has passed.

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