Deputy Speaker Luis Raymund Villafuerte said the “supermajority” of solons still wants Taguig representative Alan Peter Cayetano as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
“If you will ask the congressmen now, the supermajority of congressmen now would like Speaker Alan Cayetano to continue. Why? Nakita naman ninyo yung performance ng Congress, kahit may break nagta-trabaho, tumaas ang rating,” Villafuerte said in an ANC interview.
Cayetano and Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco has a standing term-sharing agreement for the speakership.
“Kung meron mang nagrereklamo, one or two people, which the Speaker will resolve. So that is the sentiment of the members of Congress now,” he added.
The speakership term-sharing agreement was supposed to be 15 months for Cayetano and 21 months for Velasco.
President Rodrigo Duterte arranged the agreement at the start of the 18th Congress in July last year.
But on Monday, Cayetano accused Velasco and his supporters of leading the most recent attempt to remove him as the House Speaker.
Supermajority of solons supports Cayetano
“From their side, gusto nila, gentleman’s agreement daw, sumunod ako. Pero I think, pangatlo, pang-apat na coup attempt na nila ‘to e. Tingin’ ata nila na padamihan ng attempt at, finally, kapag maraming attempt, makukuha nila,” Cayetano said.
Velasco has yet to respond to the accusation of House Speaker Cayetano.
Nevertheless, Villafuerte said that they would wait for what Duterte would say regarding the speakership in November when Velasco was supposed to be the Speaker.
“Ang sabi namin, we will follow the President. Why? Despite the fact there is a separation of the executive and the legislative, the President is the leader of the coalition. So whatever he says, we will follow,” he said.
“Ako personally I would want Speaker Cayetano to continue. Maganda ang performance niya and I feel, if it comes to a vote, the supermajority of congressmen will vote for him,” he added.
Meanwhile, Cayetano said he would be willing to step down from his post if his colleagues no longer want him to be the Speaker.
“Ang bilin ko po kanina, kung mayroong magmu-move, pagbigyan nila. Kasi kung ayaw na sa akin, kusa po akong aalis. Bakit po tayo magpipilit?” he said.