Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco has assumed as House Speaker on Tuesday following the ratification of his election at the Lower Chamber of Congress.
“When Pres. Duterte brokered the term sharing-agreement last year, there were no conditions attached to it. The gentlemen’s agreement for two parties to serve alternately was sealed by a handshake, witnessed by the President himself. This was a bond of honor, stronger than any written contract,” Velasco said in his speech.
“There is no need to open fresh wounds at this point as there will come a right time for that. However, there is no denying that all this unnecessary turmoil we’re currently experiencing resulted from the abject refusal to honor that agreement,” Velasco added.
Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano has conceded as he finally tendered his “irrevocable resignation.”
Cayetano apologized to President Rodrigo Duterte if he misunderstood the details of their meeting to finish the 2021 budget deliberation.
“Ang pagkaalam ko po talaga, I was to handle the budget and I was told until matapos ang budget para walang disruption, and I invited Cong. Velasco to join me (I thought I was to handle the budget and I was told until the budget is passed to avoid disruption, and I invited Cong. Velasco to join me),” Cayetano stated.
The former speaker said he does not want to cause trouble inside the Batasang Pambansa and has talked to the Secretary General to allow Velasco and his camp to enter the area. He added that he will cooperate with Velasco in the deliberation and passage of the 2021 budget. – Report from Daniel Manalastas
