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MANILA, Philippines – While President Alan Peter Cayetano has promised to honor his shared term agreement with Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco to serve as speaker, it will still be the members of the House of Representatives who will elect their leader.
The vice president and representative of Camarines Sur, Luis Raymund Villafuerte, said this Wednesday after it was reported that Velasco will assume as president of the Chamber as of October 14, faithful to the term agreement shared between him and Cayetano.
“President Alan will respect the agreement, but the members have yet to decide. We will approve the budget, we will assert our power of the stock market contrary to what Lord has said and he has to convince his colleagues in the presidency of na wala talagang palitan sa and we will examine the budget and we will approve a good budget, a budget of the people ” Villafuerte said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel.
During the meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday night, Villafuerte said that Cayetano promised to follow the shared term agreement, but also noted that he cannot speak on behalf of the members of the Chamber.
“If Speaker has clearly stated that he will not honor. But he also made it clear: not challenging, in fact, Hindi siya nagde-defy sa coalition. Sabi niya, ‘Mr. President, I will honor the agreement, I will resign if I have to do it at any time, but I cannot speak for my followers, colleagues and members of the Chamber, ”Villafuerte said.
Villafuerte said that Cayetano “cannot do anything if he is voted to stay.”
The Camarines Sur legislator said Velasco must also earn the respect of his colleagues, adding that there are doubts about Velasco’s competence.
Villafuerte said Velasco allegedly said he would not make changes to the proposed budget for 2021.
“Sabi ng mga congressman, how can that be? We have the power of the pocket, we have the budgetary power to scrutinize the budget and make changes to improve what we believe is correct, “Villafuerte said.
“With all due respect to Congressman Lord, nabasa ba niya ‘yung budget? How can you tell ipapasa niya as it is? Before this, you have to listen to Congressman Nagrereklamo about the assignment in his district, “he added.
Villafuerte also pointed out that the agreement was that there will be no changes in the leadership of the Chamber, including chairmanships of committees.
But during the talks, Villafuerte said Velasco was already saying that he would transfer the chairmanship of the appropriations committee from ACT-CIS Partylist Representative Eric Yap to Representative Isidro Ungab.
“Too early in the game, discouraged. We are very sure that he will replace the presidency because he has already promised it to his colleagues, ”said Villafuerte.
/ MUF
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