House leaders who are merely pretending to be supporters of Speaker Alan Cayetano ought to resign from their lofty posts in the chamber.
Thus declared Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro in a privilege speech Friday amid the resumption of the plenary debates on the proposed 2021 national budget.
"I join the call of the Speaker. Let us unite. Let us work together. Let finish the budget for the good of the nation," Castro said.
"But for those who cannot or will not join us in this task – I have one simple request – at dahil mahilig din naman kayo mag-invoke ng palabra de honor, panindigan na ninyo (since you like to invoke word of honor, stand by it). Resign your leadership positions and let those who are willing to help take over," he said, without naming anybody in particular.
"There is no shame in admitting defeat at the hands of a better foe, but it is not fitting to pretend to be part of the team, while betraying your colleagues and undermining the efforts of Congress," added Castro.
Leadership positions in the House can mean many things, but the juiciest spots mainly have to do with Deputy Speakerships and committee chairmanships. These are privileged positions that are traditionally filled by the Speaker as per his or her prerogative.
But the term-sharing dynamic in the House this 18th Congress has allowed non-allies of incumbent Speaker Cayetano to gain some of these coveted positions as a display of good will towards his supposed successor Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco. Things have turned sour between the two rival camps, however.
It also remains to be seen if the Oct. 14 turnover date for the chamber's top post would actually happen, since Cayetano's supporters are claiming that the term-sharing agreement had already been "consummated" via Wednesday's nominal voting in which 184 House members voted to reject the Taguig-Pateros lawmaker's offer of resignation.
Velasco has said that following the Oct. 14 turnover, which President Duterte himself approved in a Palace meeting Tuesday, was matter of "palabra de honor."
"Sigurado ako na alam din ng ating mahal na Pangulo kung sino ang tunay na nagbigay onor at kahalagahan sa naging usapan nila – at ‘yan ay si Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano (I'm sure our beloved President knows who truly honored and gave importance to their agreement – and that is Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano)," Castro said.
Cayetano, Duterte's running mate during the 2016 national polls, is a Nacionalista Party member. Velasco and Duterte are party-mates over at Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan.