House may still meet Oct. 14 to resolve speakers’ dispute, pro Velasco solones say



[ad_1]

Representatives Alan Peter Cayetano and Lord Allan Velasco. FILE PHOTOS

MANILA, Philippines – The House of Representatives may still meet on October 14 to finally resolve the dispute between President Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque representative Lord Allan Velasco, Buhay’s representative Lito Atienza said Wednesday.

Atienza made the comment a day after the lower house suspended the session until November 16, meaning the session was suspended ahead of the expected showdown of speakers between Cayetano and Velasco on October 14, when members are expected to of the House vote who will sit at the helm of the lower house.

“The power in Congress rests with the majority members. If the majority decide to hold a session on the 14th, with or without Cayetano, we can do it. And I will participate if someone calls, if Velasco calls, for a session on October 14, “Atienza told reporters in an online interview.

Atienza said that there have been a growing number of lawmakers agitated by the events that have been unfolding in the House, such as the unexpected early approval at second reading of the proposed budget for 2021, even if the deliberations of all government agencies have not ended.

“Granting that Cayetano succeeds in all his intrigues and plots and does all the dirty tricks in the book, and manages to avoid October 14 and we meet on November 16, well, hopefully, we are already personally present in the session room ”, Atienza. He said.

“Whether I am invited or not, I intend to attend. I do not know the others, I know that there is a growing number of congressmen already agitated by all these things that are happening. Nahihiya na sila eh, ang daming tao na talagang supports shared term agreement [they feel ashamed of themselves, a lot of people are really supportive of the term-sharing agreement] and Cayetano knows it, that is why he is afraid at this moment of facing the truth, “he added.

For Atienza, Cayetano is only “grabbed by the cliff’s nails,” adding that the Speaker could not prevent the issue of the oratory from being raised in plenary.

“Why are you avoiding [Why would be leave something that is] inevitable? What is inevitable? Whether we meet on October 14 or November 16, 17, 18, that question will always come up from the ground. ‘Sir. Speaker, you are staying longer, we are moving to declare your position vacant. ‘ You won’t be able to avoid that, ”Atienza said.

“The more you show this kind of negative destructive character, the more you don’t care if Congress disintegrates due to public condemnation. That does not matter to him, he will insist on saving his own speaker ”, he added.

Meanwhile, AAMBIS-OWA representative Sharon Garin, a Velasco supporter, echoed Atienza’s remarks, saying that the majority can call a session, especially with the 2021 budget proposal pending.

“There are already conversations and calls were being made, but it happened yesterday, so I think the congressmen are still thinking about that and trying to figure out what happened. Nagulat kasi kahapon [Surprising what happened yesterday]Garin said.

While these talks are still ongoing, Garin said the Velasco camp intends to continue with the implementation of the shared term agreement.

“We will, but when it is done, it still has to be threshed either on October 14, or after October 14 or November 16, but the intention is still there,” Garin said.

“There was no postponement, there was suspension [of session]. Usually the suspension is short, “he added.

When this day arrives, the representative of the second district of the city of Valenzuela, Eric Martínez, another ally of Velasco, said that the numbers will speak.

“The numbers will speak. As Sharon said, just look at the body language with what is happening now, but for us, we have the numbers and it will speak on the 14th because that is the word of the president, the president of our party, ”Martinez said.

But Vice President Luis Raymund Villafuerte, an ally of Cayetano, questioned the need for a special session, especially since the proposed budget for 2021 was already approved in second reading.

“The special session is only one day long. We have over a month to sit down and work on it. I do not think that one day I will do something to change the situation compared to 30 days, while in the recess we will resolve it and we will approve it in the third reading on November 16, “said Villafuerte.

JPV

Read next

Don’t miss out on the latest news and information.

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.



[ad_2]