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MANILA, Philippines – Presidential son and Vice President Paolo Duterte confirmed on Sunday sending a text message to colleagues warning them to act to declare the positions of spokesperson and vice-presidents vacant amid a speaker dispute fueled by the ” disparity “in the infrastructure budget. assignments in their respective districts.
Duterte explained that the text message was just an expression of his “personal dismay” upon learning of the barb exchange in the lower house.
“The text message that I sent to another legislator, and that is now circulating, was an expression of my personal dismay at hearing the concerns of my fellow legislators,” Duterte said.
“It was the same message I sent after a congressman from the Visayas bloc put my name on the issue, even after he had already made it very clear to me on this issue,” he added.
However, the Davao city representative refused to get involved in the House leadership dispute.
“Although I am an ex officio member as vice president, I have told you with respect and clarity that your concern is something that I would prefer to stay away from, outside of the delicacy because my father is the president,” said the legislator.
“Most of these concerns involve doubts about the process and mistrust of the legislators who govern the House, those who act as if they are bigger than their colleagues.”
“I respectfully told them that I did not want to get involved,” he continued.
During the Public Works and Highways Department’s budget briefing before the House appropriations panel, Negros Oriental representative Arnolfo Teves, Jr. stated that Camarines Sur was allocated a considerable amount of P11.8 billion for infrastructure projects, while Taguig City will receive P8 billion. .
Taguig is the legislative territory of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alan Peter Cayetano, and his wife, the representative of the second district of Taguig, Lani Cayetano.
READ: Villafuerte asks Benítez, Teves: Explain the alleged links with electronic gaming
But Camarines Sur representative LRay Villafuerte, one of Cayetano’s main allies, said Teves’ interrogation reveals the plan hatched by the camp of Marinduque representative Lord Allan Velasco to disrupt the current leadership’s path to approve the 2021 budget ahead of time.
READ: Villafuerte said: Explain why the government has to assume the construction of the capitol P420-M CamSur
Under the shared term agreement negotiated by President Rodrigo Duterte, Cayetano will serve as Speaker of the Chamber for 15 months before Velasco replaces him and leads Congress for 21 months.
The young Duterte explained that his distancing from the issue is intended to preserve the independence of Congress and the Executive Department, saying that: “Everything that comes out of my actions or my mouth can be interpreted or manipulated as if it had the blessing of my father. . That is why I prefer to suffer or work in silence rather than sacrifice the supposed independence of the Palace House ”.
He then said he could only hope his fellow legislators could solve the problem to ensure that his constituents’ programs and projects are delivered and delivered quickly.
“Members of Congress have the power to correct whatever they perceive to be wrong that is happening within the lower house or change leadership as they demand fair treatment and reforms,” Duterte said.
“If members of Congress push for a change in House leadership, in reaction to their feelings, obviously I would be among the victims because I am a vice president. I am willing to accept the consequences, “he added.
JE
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