‘Purely internal matter’: Duterte won’t intervene on speakership row, says Palace

By Prince Golez

President Rodrigo Duterte would no longer meddle in the leadership issue at the House of Representatives, his spokesman said.

In July 2019, Duterte brokered a term-sharing agreement between Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco.

Under the deal, Cayetano will serve as speaker for the first 15 months or until October 14, while Velasco will serve for the remaining 21 months.

“Dalawang beses nagsalita ang Pangulo tungkol rito. Una, ang sinabi niya sana matupad ang kasunduan. Pero kung walang numero si Lord Allan Velasco, wala siyang magagawa,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in an interview with Teleradyo Tuesday.

“Pangalawa, matapos nga po yung pagbotohan sa Kamara na binasura yung proposed resignation ni Speaker Alan Cayetano, sabi niya labas tayo diyan, hands off tayo diyan, no comment diyan. ‘Yan ay purely internal matter of the House of Representatives… So, in the end, bagamat merong kasunduan sa panig ng dalawang tao, siyempro po Kamara naman po ang magdedesisyon,” added Roque.

Cayetano earlier appealed to move the turnover of the House speakership post to December, citing the ongoing budget deliberations.

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