The Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives said Monday the mace that the allies of Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco used in its gathering in Quezon City are not an official mace of the Congress.
“I am in custody of the official mace of the House of Representatives. That is not the Official mace,” said House Sergeant-at-Arms Ramon Apolinario.
House Secretary-General Jose Luis Montales said the four historical maces of the chamber and the one currently used are with the House Sergeant at Arms.
“The Archives and Museum Management Service of the House of Representatives has, as part of it collection, the four historical maces of the House of Representatives: replica of the mace used by Speaker Sergio Osmeña during the First Philippine National Assembly; the original mace of the Interim Batasang Pambansa; the original mace of the Regular Batasang Pambansa; and the House of Representatives mace used from the 8th Congress (1987) to the 16th Congress (2016),” he said.
“These four maces and the current mace of the House of Representatives are the only official maces of the House of Representatives, and they are all currently in the custody of the House Sergeant-at-Arms,” he added.
Mace used at pro-Velasco gathering ‘not official’
House’s website said it is “a symbol of authority” at the chamber, placed at the foot of the Speaker’s rostrum when the House is in session.
“It serves as the warrant for the Sergeant-at-Arms in enforcing order in the House upon instruction of the Speaker,” it added.
In a manifesto sent to the media, 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 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.