Fourteen months since he agreed to a term-sharing scheme for the House speakership, Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Jay Velasco finally broke his silence amid accusations that he plotted several attempts to oust Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano before the end of the latter’s 15-month term as House leader.
“I have been silent during the duration of the gentleman’s agreement in deference and respect to the sitting Speaker. My silence does not mean I am disinterested nor I have turned my back on the covenant,” Velasco stated in a Facebook message posted Tuesday night.
He also responded to the claim of the Cayetano camp that the incumbent Speaker’s leadership has been outstanding, and that support for him has been strong.
“When both parties finally honor the agreement, I will show my colleagues the kind of leadership I espouse. Thereafter, at the end of my term, my peers can then be the judge of my loyal service to God, to the President and ultimately, to the Filipino people,” Velasco stated, stressing hopes Cayetano will step down next month.
Under the 15-21 term sharing agreement, the Marinduque solon will take over the reins of the Lower Chamber next month, possible on the fourth Monday of October.
Velasco, chairman of the House Committee on Energy, admitted being "mum on issues" affecting the chamber, pointing out that he just did not want to call attention to himself, lest he be accused of trying to upstage Cayetano.
“Being party to the term-sharing agreement, one does not and should not seek to compete with the current Speaker as a gentleman’s agreement is in force. We will have our turn at the right time,” he said.
The three-term House member posted the statement a few hours after Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque told reporters that President Duterte remained confident both Cayetano and Velasco would honor the agreement they reached prior to the opening of the 18th Congress in July last year.
However, Roque said Duterte will not interfere if it is not followed.
Duterte brokered the agreement which Cayetano reportedly suggested to avert animosity among his allies in the Lower House.
Velasco stressed that he “worked quietly, away from publicity to support” the Duterte administration pursue its legislative agenda.
Many House-based media men will agree that the Marinduque lawmaker had indeed been evading interviews and refused to make commentaries on many issues except about bills pending before his committee.