Mikee Romero, Velasco ally, removed as Vice Speaker of the House

1 Pacman representative, Michael “Mikee” Romero. File photo by INQUIRER.net / RYAN LEAGOGO

MANILA, Philippines – As the line of speakers continues to grow in the House of Representatives, Vice President and 1-PACMAN Rep. Mikee Romero, a reported ally of Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, was removed from office.

During Friday’s session, Deputy Majority Leader Xavier Jesús Romualdo replaced Romero with Capiz 2nd District Representative Fredenil Castro, an ally of Speaker of the House of Representatives Alan Peter Cayetano.

Without objection, the motion was approved by Deputy Chairman Raneo Abu.

The move to replace Romero came just hours after Castro challenged his colleagues who cannot cooperate with Cayetano’s leadership to resign.

“Because they also like to ask for the word of honor, they will keep it (since they like to invoke the word of honor, they must defend it themselves). Resign your leadership positions and allow those who are willing to help and cooperate to take charge, ”Castro said.

“It is not shameful to admit defeat at the hands of the best enemy, but it is not appropriate to be part of the team while betraying your colleagues and undermining the efforts of Congress,” he added.

‘Stand up against the coalition of party lists’

However, the decision to remove Romero from office did not sit well with some legislators on the party list. Romero serves as president of the party list bloc in the lower house.

Powers Athletes Force (PBA) Rep. Jericho Nograles said the move was “an affront to the Party List Coalition.”

“The impeachment of Vice President Mikee Romero is an affront to the Party List Coalition. I will withhold any additional statements on this matter in deference to the Coalition, ”Nograles told reporters.

This was shared by AAMBIS-OWA representative Sharon Garin.

“Removing Mikee as vice president, who is our president, no less, is an affront to our coalition and an insult to everything we have worked for as a bloc,” Garin said.

“This is not PCFi’s statement, but only mine, as one of many who originally fought hard and for a long time to give integrity and strength to the representation of the party list in Congress,” added the legislator.

Let us remember that Tuesday night it was learned that Velasco will assume command of the Chamber as of October 14, faithful to his shared term agreement with Cayetano.

This was immediately followed by Cayetano giving a privilege speech on Tuesday in which he offered to resign. However, the President’s attempt to resign was rejected by the majority of the House members.

Under the agreement, Cayetano would serve as president of the House of Representatives for the first 15 months of the 18th Congress, while Velasco will be able to perform his duties for the remaining 21 months under a shared term agreement.

JPV

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