A total of 187 lawmakers, who were believed to be allies of Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco, would gather on Monday and elect him as the new House Speaker despite the session suspension.
In a manifesto sent to the media, the lawmakers would join forces to declare the House Speaker vacant and elect Velasco as the Congress’s new leader.
Their number exceeds the majority of 299 House members, meaning it is enough to elect a new House Speaker.
“In accordance with Section 13, Rule 3 of the Rules of the House of Representatives, of the 18th Congress, we call to assemble, move to and cast our vote to declare the position of Speaker VACANT on Monday, October 12, 2020,” the manifesto read.
“Further, also in accordance with the same Section, we will move to and cast our vote to declare Representative Lord Allan Velasco of Marinduque as Speaker of the House of Representatives of the 18th Congress,” it added.
Oriental Mindoro Representative Salvador Leachon sent the manifesto to the media early Monday morning. Cagayan De Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez, Valenzuela City Representative Eric Martinez, and Albay Representative Joey Salceda confirmed it to GMA News Online.
If it pushed through, the session would take place as the House is amid the session’s suspension. House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano earlier suspended the session until November 16 after the second reading of the proposed 2021 national budget.
Also read: Lord Velasco visits Sara Duterte amid speakership row
Allies of Velasco to assemble, elect him as Speaker on Monday
Many believed that Cayetano’s move was to prevent the speakership turn over which was supposed to be on Wednesday, October 14, following Cayetano and Velasco’s term-sharing agreement.
“In unceremoniously terminating deliberations on the budget… the current House Leadership deprived the Filipino People of exercising, through their duly-elected Representatives, their right to participate in crafting a national budget that would best serve the country,” they said in the manifesto.
The “invalid” delegation to the small committee to accept amendments to the budget bill “effectively railroads and replaces the important budget process which is comprised of sponsorship, debate, and amendments,” they added.
“This act runs contrary to Congress’ responsibility to craft an open, transparent, and meaningful budget that is beneficial to the Filipino people. The power of Congress is bastardized when it was divested from the plenary, in each and every individual legislator, and purposely let to be monopolized by a select few.”