'203 solons suportado si Cayetano tapusin ang 18th Congress bilang speaker'

MANILA, Philippines — Mahigit-kumulang two-thirds ng Kamara ang sumusuporta kay Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano na tapusin ang 18th Congress bilang speaker ng House of Representatives, sa kabila ng hatian sa termino na pinagitnaan ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte.

Ito ang ibinahagi ni Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga sa ANC, Lunes, kahit na may napagkaisahang "term-sharing" sa pagitan nina Cayetano at Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco.

Basahin: Duterte: Cayetano, Velasco to share House speakership

Sa halos 300 miyembro ng Kamara de Representantes, 203 ang sinasabing nasa likod ng dating running mate ni Duterte sa pagkabise presidente.

"Of course we need the president in order to prevent disunity in the House. As I have stated earlier, whoever will be the speaker, whatever will be the decision of the President, we can rest assured we will do the legislation necessary most especially the budget," sambit ni Barzaga.

"[W]e want to make it known to the entire country as well as the president that 203 congressmen are supporting the leadership of Alan Peter Cayetano in spite of the fact we know there was a term-sharing agreement brokered by the President."

Si Barzaga ang presidente ngt National Unity Party, ang ikalawang pinakamalaking bloc sa Mababang Kapulungan.

Lunes nang hamunin ni Velasco si Cayetano na magpakita ng palabra de honor upang kilalanin ang kasunduang magbibitiw siya pagsapit ng Oktubre 2020.

"Let us uphold the agreement as this was made ‘for God and our country 1521.’ I have always intended to honor the agreement. The covenant was crystal clear: a 15-21 term-sharing agreement," ani Velasco.

"That was the pledge made before the president... Trust and honor are values that are important, especially in these trying times. They reveal our true character and show what we, as leaders, are truly made of."

May kinalaman: Velasco invokes word of honor; Duterte steps into row

Bagama't sa ika-30 ng Setyembre sinasabing mag-e-"expire" ang speakership term ni Cayetano, nanindigan si Barzaga na hindi pa nilalapitan ni Velasco ang kanilang mga katrabaho sa Konggreso hinggil sa mga plano niya sa Kamara.

Patuloy pa ng Kabitenyong lawmaker, mas magiging madali ang pagpapasa ng anumang batas kung mananatili si Cayetano sa posisyon. Hindi rin daw kakayanin ng kasalukuyang coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation kung bigla-biglang magkaroon ng reenacted budget para sa taong 2021. 

"With this pandemic existing, we cannot afford a reenacted budget, we cannot afford to have a Congress which will be disunited and which cannot pass the necessary legislation to address the pandemic problem," sabi pa niya. — James Relativo