“Speaker,” Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco said he is open to offering a deputy speaker position to Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano.
Velasco, who was “elected” by his allies in a “session” held at the Celebrity Sports Club in Quezon City, said he would offer a position to Cayetano that “depends on what position he would want.”
“But definitely may be one of my deputy speakers,” he added.
Velasco added Majority Leader Martin Romualdez might keep his position.
“Like what I said before, the only changes that we made today is the seat of the Speaker. As to Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, I think he has the full support of the House for the majority leadership,” he said.
With 186 affirmative votes, the Speaker’s post became vacant. 1-PACMAN Partylist Rep. Mikee Romero then formally nominated Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco as Speaker of the House.
Meanwhile, Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said the session which elected Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco as House Speaker was “fake.”
“Ang purpose nila, manggulo. The last time I checked, ang Celebrity Sports Club ay hindi Kongreso. They are throwing the Constitution to waste. Fake session ang ginagawa nila,” Cayetano said.
Velasco may offer Cayetano deputy speaker post
“This is a very disturbing precedent. Sabi nila, basta may quorum. Basta may quorum, they can meet any day and anywhere and do whatever they want? Kung valid ‘yan, banana republic na tayo,” he added.
However, for Velasco, the Speakership row between him and Cayetano already ended as he was elected by the “majority” of House members.
“Tapos na po ang issue ng speakership today because we have majority of the House members with us,” he said.
Before the session in the Celebrity Sports Club started, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said that a majority of House members, constituting a quorum, can resume the session.
He added that most attendance members could also hold sessions outside the regularly designated venues under the Constitution.
During the said session in Celebrity Sports Club, the lawmakers also elected a “new” Secretary-General and Sergeant of Arms of the House of Representatives.