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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Duterte keeps hands off House leadership row

Duterte keeps hands off House leadership row

Published Sep 21, 2020 03:17 pm

President Duterte will not meddle into the affairs of the House of Representatives pertaining to the ongoing speakership dispute caused by "disparity" in infrastructure budget allocations, Malacañang said.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte
(ROBINSON NIÑAL JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after presidential son and Deputy Speaker Paolo Duterte confirmed a warning to move to declare the positions of Speaker and Deputy Speakers vacant amid the speakership row.

In his Monday presser, Roque said President Duterte will not get himself involved in the issues of the Lower House.

"The Constitution is clear: Tanging mga miyembro lang ng Kamara de Representante ang pwedeng magdesisyon kung sino ang kanilang magiging leader (Only members of the House of Representatives can decide who will be their leader)," he said.

"We leave that to the members of the House of Representatives," he added.

This was not the first time the position of the House Speaker became an issue under President Duterte's watch. Former House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez was ousted by his colleagues and was replaced by former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

In 2019, Duterte's supporters asked for his guidance as they failed to settle who among them should lead the Lower House. Duterte advised his supporters to let Alan Peter Cayetano be the House Speaker but he will share his term with Marinduque Representatve Lord Allan Velasco.

Under the deal that Duterte brokered, Cayetano will serve as House Speaker for 15 months before Velasco replaces him and leads the House for the remaining 21 months of the representatives’ three-year term of office.

It was reported that President Duterte “felt bad” for Velasco. However, Roque failed to give context to this particular quote of the President as he was not present during Duterte's meeting with the leaders of Congress.

The Palace official, however, hoped that the House of Representatives will continue to have a good relationship with Malacañang should Cayetano pass the torch to Velasco as agreed.

"Sana po patuloy po ang kooperasyon sa panig ng Kamara at Malacañang (I hope the House of Representatives will continue cooperating with Malacañang)," he said.

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