Speaker Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco
House of Representatives
Batasan Pambansa
13 October 2020
"To the Filipino people, my dear colleagues, I am
humbled from your support and trust for electing me as your Speaker of the
House of the 18th Congress. I have three main considerations why we stood our
ground and fought the battle.
First and most importantly, this is for the Filipino people,
the present leadership has been accused of putting political expediency above
public service. This perception has scandalized the nation to a point where no
less than President Rodrigo Duterte himself was prompted to deliver a wake-up
call for this august body to shape up or ship out.
In his proclamation, our President ordered Congress to
resume the congressional deliberations on the proposed 2021 national budget and
to avoid any further delays on the prompt passage thereof, in accordance with
the Constitution and applicable laws, rules and regulations.
As the head of a nation comprised of 109 million people, our
President is voicing out the widespread sentiment that the interest of our
people, especially at this time of COVID-19 pandemic and the concomitant crisis
it has spawned, is being sacrificed before the altar of personal greed and
political ambition.
Our countrymen need no further proof of this than the
whimsical, illogical, irregular and immoral attempt to suspend Lower House
deliberations until November 16 2020, for no apparent reason other than to
perpetuate the holding of the ruling clique.
It did not matter to them that by doing so, the rights and
needs of a suffering people were trampled and disregarded ironically by the
very people who are supposed to represent and safeguard their interest.
Our people cannot wait and they do not deserve to wait even
more. Simply because someone’s political plans are in peril.
The second reason is to restore a sense of statesmanship to
this august body. To this day, there is that sense of reverence to the memory
and the legacy of the men and women who once lit up its hallowed halls. It is
incumbent to each and every one of us who follow in their steps to respect
their memory by living up to the code of honor to which they swore and lived
by.
Recent days, the collective integrity of this body has been
subjected to a nationwide uproar, sadly affecting many of its members who have
no fault or participation. The proceedings and conducts of the present
leadership is such that the 18th Congress has become an object of derision and
contempt by people disillusioned with the workings of ambitious politicians.
For sure, any level of redemption will require the collective
commitment of every member of this august body. However, such a resolve has to
start at the top and it is to this end that this humble representation has
committed to uphold and work for.
Lastly, the third reason is for the time-honored and yet
increasingly-challenged virtue called word of honor. When President Rodrigo
Duterte brokered a term-sharing agreement last year, there were no conditions
attached to it. The gentlemen’s agreement for two parties to serve alternately
was sealed by a handshake, witnessed by the President himself.
This was a bond of honor stronger than any written contract.
There is no need to open fresh wounds at this point, as there will come a right
time for that. However, there is no denying that all these unnecessary turmoil
we’re currently experiencing resulted from the abject refusal to honor that
agreement.
There is no other way to look at it. In the increasingly
futile machinations to reject that covenant, there is one principle that was
ignored and silenced – the virtue we call word of honor. While we quote verses
from the Holy Book and mesmerize with elegant passage of scriptures, the
blatant irony is that the good book itself is a testament to God, honoring His
promise to mankind and honoring His word.
This humble representation apologizes to Mayor President
Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the undisputed leader of this nation who now stands
assailed by the perceived rejection by this august body, not only of the
agreement which he personally established, but this very person upon which that
agreement was anchored.
The rejection of the agreement is a rejection of palabra de
honor and likewise, a rejection of Mayor President Rodrigo Roa Duterte himself.
If this agreement is honored and breached, what future agreement will not be
subjected to doubt and disbelief owing to our failure to honor it?
Let us show our countrymen that loyalty and fidelity to the
promises we make are not mere conveniences for us. Let us be good examples of
palabra de honor and demonstrate that our word is our bond.
There comes a time in life that marks the destiny of an
individual. This is such time for this humble representation. There is a choice
between simply coasting along the shoreline within one’s comfort zone and
launching into the deep to face uncertainty and dangers.
Very often, the latter represents the fulfilment of a higher
calling. For me, these verses from American poet Robert Frost sum up the sense
of triumph that awaits one who chooses the road not taken.
“I shall be telling this with a sigh, somewhere ages and
ages hence, two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled
by, and that has made all the difference.”
This is for our people, for this august body and this
institution we call Congress, for the word of honor of our beloved President
Rodrigo Roa Duterte, and for God, who makes all these happen.
To the Filipino people, we will not let you down. For God
and country. Maraming, maraming salamat po, mabuhay po ang Kongreso, mabuhay po
ang sambayanang Pilipino."
