Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco on Friday questioned the motive of Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and his allies on the proposed 2021 national budget, the two lawmakers’ controversial term sharing agreement for the speakership.
“Budget ba ito sa bayan o budget ng mga barkada mo? Makabuluhang budget ba ito sa gitna ng pandemya, o malaking budget ba ito para sa grupo mo?” Velasco said in video posted on his Facebook account.
“Is this why Speaker Cayetano and his sidekicks are adamant and fiercely fighting the peaceful transition of House leadership. Is this why Speaker Cayetano is trying to blackmail President Duterte and hold the budget hostage if his term is not extended?” he added.
Velasco also slammed Cayetano’s alleged attempts to defame him, and Cayetano’s refusal to honor the term-sharing agreement brokered by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2019.
“For the last month, the attacks have escalated to malign me and paint me as power-hungry and evil. But in spite of these, I have kept quiet as a gentleman and a statesman out of respect for the President,” Velasco said.
He accused Cayetano of betraying “multiple times” the term sharing agreement, in which Cayetano will be the leader of the House for the first 15 months, and Velasco for the next 21 months.
Velasco questions Cayetano’s motive on 2021 national budget
“In his desperate attempt to hang on to power and tighten his grip on House leadership, Speaker Cayetano shamelessly and unabashedly resorted to attacking me and spreading lies,” the Marinduque representative said.
“Kaya madami pong dismayado nitong mga araw sa ‘di patas na paglalagak ng mga proyekto sa lahat ng distrito,” Velasco added.
Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo Teves Jr. questioned the P8 billion allocations for Taguig City, where Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano serves, and the P11.8 billion for the district of Cayetano’s ally Camarines Sur under Villafuerte.
Velasco also apologized to the public for the controversy surrounding the House leadership and 2021 national budget deliberations.
“In the coming days, weeks and months, let us show the public that we, as representatives, are still decent, honorable, and trustworthy leaders whose only agenda is to serve the people,” Velasco said, urging Cayetano to resign on October 14.