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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Romualdez notes Duterte's approval of Speaker Cayetano's performance

Romualdez notes Duterte's approval of Speaker Cayetano's performance

Published Sep 19, 2020 11:19 pm

House Majority Leader and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez insinuated Saturday night that President Duterte wants Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano to “carry on" with his priority legislative agenda after the President was impressed with the performance of the 299-man Lower Chamber under the Taguig-Pateros 1st district representative’s  leadership.

House Majority Leader and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez

"The Majority Leader noted the President nodding with approval and clearly wanting the Speaker to carry on with the priority legislative agenda of the Palace,” read the statement issued by his office in the wake of impending leadership change in the House. 

The House leader cited that Duterte "was visibly pleased and had a brief huddle" with Cayetano before leaving, 

Last Wednesday evening, Romualdez, Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, and Senate President Vicente  “Tito”  Sotto III met with the Chief Executive at the Malacanang Golf Clubhouse.

The House leader said during that meeting, he had the privilege of personally reporting  to President Duterte the accomplishment  of House’s priority measures for the past year. 

Romualdez relayed to Duterte that the House’s “success” in keeping the legislative grinding is because of  "the able leadership" of Cayetano and "the excellent teamwork that the House leadership and its members had demonstrated in the performance of their duties.”

"The members of the House of Representatives are happy that under the leadership of Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano so much legislation has been passed despite the limitations and challenges caused by the COVID 19 pandemic,” he cited.

Under the term-sharing agreement endorsed by President Duterte, Cayetano will serve as Speaker for the first 15 months of the 18th Congress,  and will step down by the end of this period to allow Marinduque lone district Rep. Lord Allan Velasco to take over during the last 21 months. 

In a radio interview on Sept. 6, Cayetano said he "will wait for the advice" of President Duterte  "on the proper time to step down."

He said so far, nothing has changed regarding his deal with Velasco, a stalwart of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban). 

The Lower Chamber is expected to go on a respite from October 17 to November 15.

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