A constitutionalist has explained that the House of Representatives can modify its rules, following the session and the election of Lord Allan Velasco at the Celebrity Sports Complex on Monday.
“Just as the Lower House has the power to make its rules, the Lower House has the power also to amend its rules… So, if the House itself decided to have an election in a gymnasium, well that means, it changed its rules for that purpose and conducted an election there, whether or not the mace is there,” San Beda University Graduate School of Law Dean Fr. Ranhilio Aquino elucidated.
“If Velasco has the numbers, he’s the Speaker of the House. So what we should find out now is what do the minutes of the meeting held at the gymnasium say. And if they say that the majority of the House voted for the rival of Mr. Alan Cayetano, then Mr. Cayetano should accept the outcome of such an election,” Aquino added.
Aquino said the Lower House should move on with the issue on the house speakership and shift its attention on the passage of the 2021 national budget to prevent a reenacted budget which does not have a provision for COVID-19.
Meanwhile, Malacañang has reiterated that President Rodrigo Duterte does not want to meddle with the speakership issue and emphasized that his priority is the national budget. He is also appealing to the solons to set aside politics.
According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque,“itong mga pulitikang nangyayari ngayon, paano madi-discuss ang budget bukas kung ang magiging issue ay sino sa kanila ang namumuno? Iyan po ang nais sanang iwasan ng Presidente (With all these politicking, how can the budget be discussed tomorrow if the issue revolves around leadership? That’s what the President wants to avoid).” – Report from Mela Lesmoras
