By Charissa Luci-Atienza
Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco is hoping that the term-sharing agreement brokered by President Duterte would still be honored after the leadership of Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano ends in 15 months.
Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco
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He expressed confidence that Cayetano would give way and would allow him to serve for the last 21 months of the 18th Congress.
“I think so,” Velasco said when asked if he was confident that Cayetano would honor the term-sharing formula recommended by President Duterte.
As expected, Velasco, one of the frontrunners in the Speakership race, nominated Cayetano to the Lower Chamber’s top post.
He expressed hope that he would still be given the chance to lead the House Committee on Energy, which he previously chaired during 17th Congress.
“Hopefully, I still get my Committee on Energy,” Velasco said.
President Duterte had endorsed Cayetano as Speaker for the first 15 months, while Velasco of the ruling PDP-Laban party would assume the fourth highest post in the land for the last 21 months of the 18th Congress.
The Chief Executive named Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, another contender for speaker, as the House Majority Leader. They all gave in to President’s decision.