[ad_1]
(FILE PHOTO) Camarines Sur 2nd Dist. Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte. Daphne Galvez / INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines – “If the intention to remove me was to intimidate all those who remain loyal to former President Cayetano, then they have miscalculated”
Camarines Sur 2nd Dist. Representative Luis Raymund Villafuerte declared Thursday that the reform underway in the House of Representatives stripped him of his powerful position as vice president.
Villafuerte, a known close ally of recently replaced president Alan Peter Cayetano, described his removal as vice president as an act of “revenge” on the part of Velasco’s side.
One day after formally installing Marinduque representative Lord Allan Velasco as the new president, House members elected representative from the 1-PACMAN Party list, Michael Romero, as the new vice president replacing Villafuerte.
“His revenge simply shows that we were right all along and exposes the kind of ‘leadership’ we can expect,” Villafuerte said in a statement.
Villafuerte also said that it is up to the Velasco camp to explain “why they are violating the commitments they made.”
To recall, Cayetano has previously mentioned that Velasco agreed that there will be no changes in the leadership of the Chamber. – except the chairman of the Chamber’s accounts committee – once the speaker change occurs.
The new chairman of the Chamber’s accounts committee is Davao City 1st Dist. Rep. Paolo Duterte, son of President Rodrigo Duterte.
“The House needs to be united, and I am totally in favor of that. But it has to come from above. Words must be backed by action, “said Villafuerte.
“We cannot speak of Word of Honor only when it suits our personal ambitions – we must live it, breathe it and embody it in everything we do. That is what it takes to be the true Spokesperson, ”he added.
However, Villafuerte said he will continue to support the president’s legislative agenda.
“There are still many challenges ahead. And although I would have appreciated the opportunity to lend any knowledge and experience that I have acquired in recent months to the new ‘leadership’ of the Chamber, this no longer depends on me, “said Villafuerte.
“Despite what happened, I will continue to support the President’s legislative agenda as much as I can. But if the new leadership chooses division instead of unity, backtrack instead of moving forward, and reject our offers of cooperation, that is no longer up to me, “he added.
House reorganization
Romero was not the only one elected during Wednesday’s special session on the 2021 national budget.
Oriental Mindoro 1st Dis. Rep. Doy Leachon, a strong Velasco supporter, was also elected senior vice president.
The deputy speakers are the second highest ranking officials in the House of Representatives. They have the task of presiding over the House in the absence of the President.
On Tuesday, the city representative of Davao Duterte replaced Cavite 8th Dist. Representative Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino as head of the accounts committee.
Another Velasco supporter, Quezon 4th Dist. Representative Angelina Helen Tan, also regained her position as chair of the health committee.
On Wednesday afternoon, Cayetano invoked the word of honor by reminding Velasco of his supposed agreement that there should be no changes in the leadership and presidencies of the commissions in the lower legislative body.
However, Cayetano himself eliminated some of Velasco’s supporters – including Romero and Tan, as well as the representative of the AAMBIS-OWA party list, Sharon Garin and the second district of the city of Valenzuela. Representative Eric Martinez – of their respective positions of leadership and presidency in the Chamber during their tenure as president.
KGA
Read next
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer and more than 70 other titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download from 4am and share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
For comments, complaints or inquiries, please contact us.
[ad_2]
