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MANILA – Marinduque District Representative Lord Allan Jay Velasco reminded Taguig-Pateros First District Representative Allan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday to step down as speaker on October 14 as part of their shared term agreement forged last year.
In a Facebook post, Velasco urged Cayetano to honor a “gentlemen’s agreement” and said the latter reportedly promised to resign after 15 months in front of the camera.
“For President Alan Peter Cayetano, it was only last night when he promised to resign on October 14 that the president ordered him to comply with the shared term agreement,” he said in a statement, after President Rodrigo Duterte called them on Tuesday in the middle. of a dispute. in the Lower House controlled by the administration.
“The president tasked him with announcing the rotation date. October 14 was chosen as the rotation date because we committed to approving the budget by October 14 and not doing anything else that could disrupt or derail the process. “he added. added.
Under the shared term agreement that Duterte negotiated last year, Cayetano will lead the Chamber for the first 15 months of the XVIII Congress or until October, while Velasco will take over the reins for the next 21 months.
Cayetano addressed the chamber’s rostrum on Wednesday to offer his resignation, but was quickly rejected by lawmakers.
In his privileged speech, legislator Taguig-Pateros also questioned Velasco’s competence to lead the 305-member House of Representatives.
Velasco struck back at Cayetano for “more political maneuvering and theatricality,” which only led to the suspension of budget deliberation.
“We lost a whole day, and even tomorrow, where you have stated that no sessions will be held, which are crucial to meeting our schedule,” he said.
“These attacks and distractions serve no other purpose than to perpetuate what is a purely personal agenda that threatens to delay the approval of the budget. This is the truth.”
Despite the tug of war for the speaker’s position, the Marinduque legislator urged his colleagues to continue their work and pass the budget by Oct. 14.
He also assured them that he would be a “kind leader” who would listen and take action on their concerns.
“But I make a sincere plea: let us defend the dignity of the House of Representatives as men and women who believe in the“ Word of Honor ”to keep our word and defend the shared term agreement. President Cayetano and I swear to honor and respect”, Velasco said.
Lord Allan Jay Velasco, Alan Peter Cayetano, House of Representatives, Lower House, Lower House, Speaker of the House, row of speakers, speaker’s position
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