Malacañang does not want to be involved in the continuing squabble at the House of Representatives regarding the issue of house speakership.
According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, President Rodrigo R. Duterte has already relayed his message to both camps of House Speaker Alan Cayetano and Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco. What will happen next is up to them since the Congress has a separate power.
He also reiterated that the only wish of the President is that the proposed 2021 national budget must not be affected by the dispute.
“Hands off po ang Palasyo diyan, that’s a purely internal affair of the House of Representatives. Ang hinihiling lang po ng Presidente ay huwag maantala ang pagpasa ng budget at nagagalak naman po kami na naipasa na on second reading ang budget sa mababang kapulungan. (The Palace is hands off [on the issue]. That’s a purely internal affair of the House of Representatives. The President only wishes it does not delay the passing of the budget and we are happy that it has been passed on the second reading by the Lower House.)”
Report from Mela Lesmoras
