Deputy Speaker and presidential son Paolo Duterte has confirmed a House coup threat against Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano amid the latest episode of bickering among congressmen over infrastructure budget allocations in their respective districts.
"The text message that I sent to another lawmaker — and is now making the rounds — was an expression of my personal dismay upon hearing the concerns of my fellow lawmakers," the Davao City representative said.
"It was the same message that I sent after one congressman from the Visayas Bloc dragged my name into the issue even after I have already strongly made myself clear over this issue," he said.
The message, which Rep. Duterte sent to his House colleagues via Viber either Thursday or Friday, said: "Sinabihan ko na kayo nananahimik lang ako kasi di na ako kinakausap nina Speaker ngayon nadamay ako (I've already told you, I'm just keeping silent because the Speaker's camp isn't talking to me anymore, and now I've been dragged into this). I will ask the Mindanao Bloc to declare the seat of Speaker and Deputy Speakers vacant ngayong Monday (this Monday, September 21)."
"Di mamamatay ang Mindanao dahil walang budget! (Mindanao won't die because of absence of budget!)" also said the message, which according to Rep. Duterte, was sent to House Appropriations Committee chairman ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Eric Go Yap.
The coup threat came to light amid the appropriation's panel's high-stakes deliberation on the ₱4.506-trillion National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2021 as well as the supposed imminent turnover of the speakership by Cayetano to Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco.
Cayetano, who represents Taguig-Pateros in the House, belongs to the Nacionalista Party (NP).
This term-sharing deal was brokered last year by President Duterte himself in order to prevent his political coalition from splintering.
"Now as Congress continues to be hounded by the issue of budget — something that finds its way up to the current House leadership, how it treats its members, how it approves allocations and budgets with fairness or lack of it — let me reiterate my position. I do not want to get involved, however, I wish to help my fellow lawmakers find answers to their questions or remedies to the budget that they proposed for their people," Rep. Duterte said.
He said he is leaving it up to the House members to "come up with a favorable solution," while underscoring that they "have the power to change the leadership."
"I leave this issue to the members of Congress as I believe that it is within their rights as elected officials to come up with a favorable solution to an issue that could badly impact the development of their districts and their people. As a collective body, the members of Congress have the power to change the course of which the leadership is leading them to and address a problem to ensure that the programs and projects for their people are delivered and delivered expeditiously," he said.
"If the members of Congress will push for a change in House leadership, as a reaction to their sentiments, obviously I would be among the casualties because I am a deputy speaker. I am ready to accept the consequences," Rep. Duterte said.
Duterte said that he would leave this issue to them since his actions could be construed as having the blessing of his father, President Rodrigo R. Duterte, who is a known ally of Cayetano.
“Although I am an ex officio member being a Deputy Speaker, I have respectfully and clearly told them that their concern is something that I would rather stay away from — out of delicadeza because my father is the President," he added.
Duterte said that his colleagues have the power to dictate the direction that the House leadership is leading them to, in order to find favorable solutions to their concerns that could affect the development of their respective districts and constituents, and to ensure that the programs and projects are delivered.
He added that the concerns of his colleagues have shrouded doubts over the process and mistrust of the ruling lawmakers who, he said, “are acting as if they are bigger than their colleagues.”
“Now, as Congress continues to be hounded by the issue of budget — something that finds its way up to the current House leadership, how it treats its members, how it approves allocations and budgets with fairness or lack of it — let me reiterate my position. I do not want to get involved. However, I wish to help my fellow lawmakers find answers to their questions or remedies to the budget that they proposed for their people,” he said.
He hopes Congress will resolve this issue before it could cause damage beyond repair.
“As much as I am part of Congress with a duty to be involved in the goings on inside, I cannot discount the fact that I am a Duterte. Anything that comes out of my actions or mouth could be construed or manipulated as having the blessing of my father. And so I would rather suffer or work in silence rather than sacrifice the supposed independence of the House from the Palace,” he said.
Last week, PDP-Laban stalwart, Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr., questioned during the Department of Public Works and Highways' appropriations panel briefing the huge disparity of infrastructure funds between some congressional districts under the agency's proposed budget for 2021.
Teves claimed some districts were allocated less than ₱2 billion while others were rumored to receive ₱8 billion or more. Cayetano’s performance 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 TaguigPateros 1st district representative’s leadership.
"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 said that Duterte "was visibly pleased and had a brief huddle" with Cayetano before leaving, Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. said the 299-man House will benefit if the term-sharing agreement between Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco will not push through.
Barzaga, president of the National Unity Party (NUP), said so far, the representatives have not discussed among themselves the 15-21 term sharing pact brokered by Duterte, and assured that whoever will be the next Speaker, they will support him for the sake of national interest.
He also assured the public that "that there will be no reenacted budget” amid the raging Speakership issue. Last Wednesday, 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 the President the accomplishment of the Lower House in the past year.
Romualdez relayed to Duterte that the House’s “success” in keeping the legislative mill 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 COVID19 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 break on October 17 to November 15. (With Antonio L. Colina IV)