‘Work together as one majority to pass budget’

MANILA, Philippines — As “one majority,” the House of Representatives under the fresh leadership of Speaker Lord Allan Velasco will ensure the timely passage of the P4.5-trillion national budget for next year, as the special session called by President Duterte is seen to proceed smoothly with the end of the leadership tug-of-war in the chamber.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said Velasco and former speaker Alan Peter Cayetano made the commitment after a meeting with President Duterte at the Malago House at Malacañang. The meeting took place after a majority of House members ratified the election on Monday of Velasco as Speaker.

The meeting came almost a week after the Chief Executive called on the lawmakers to resolve the budget impasse or he would act on the matter “legally.”

“In the course of the meeting, the two representatives agreed to work together as one majority in order to ensure the timely passage of the 2021 budget and other priority legislation of the Duterte administration,” Roque said.

Also at the meeting were Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Sen. Bong Go.

“Tatay Digong was like a real father talking to his children during the meeting. He advised them to unite – ensure a one majority and pass the budget on time for the nation,” Go said.

Earlier in the afternoon, Roque said the President left the matter of choosing the House leader to members of the House of Representatives as mandated by law.

“The President has been consistent. Choosing the leadership of the House is a matter best decided by individual members of the House of Representatives,” Roque said in Filipino at a virtual press briefing.

“So, we respect the wish of the members of the House of Representatives on who will be their Speaker and if it is true that it has been ratified, then so be it,” he said.

Roque maintained that the President did not have a hand in the leadership controversy in the chamber in accordance with law, citing a Supreme Court ruling that only the members of the House and the Senate can determine their leadership.

“Good luck to those elected and congratulations to those elected by their peers in the House of Representatives,” said Roque, sending congratulations to Velasco and thanking Cayetano for the past 15 months that he led the lower chamber.

The two congressmen had a gentleman’s agreement for a 15-21 term sharing until Cayetano reneged on his promise and took over the House leadership by supposed votes of 200 representatives last week.

Seen as Cayetano’s ploy to preserve his leadership, he announced early this month the suspension of session until Nov.16.

On Thursday last week, Duterte appeared on national TV and exhorted the two warring lawmakers to settle their differences to avoid derailing the approval of the 2021 budget.

On Friday, Duterte ordered the conduct of a special session until Oct. 16 after certifying as urgent the 2021 appropriations measure.

“This was a decision of the members of the House of Representatives on a purely internal matter,” Roque maintained when pressed further if Duterte had prior knowledge of Velasco’s ascent to the speakership.

“Our consistent position has been, it is the House of Representatives that will choose their leaders. And if it has been ratified, then it is Speaker Lord Allan Velasco,” he said.

At the Palace briefing, Budget Secretary Wendell Avisado cited the importance of the passage of the 2021 budget on time, saying it provides the necessary funding for the government’s response to the COVID-19 crisis.

With the House leadership issue settled, Avisado expressed hope that there will be no hindrance to the passage of the budget measure. – Paolo Romero