Rep. LRay VillafuerteMANILA, Philippines — The “supermajority” of congressmen
want House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano to continue instead of letting
Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, who was supposedly not active in any major
issue, to take over, Deputy Speaker and Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte
said Tuesday.
“If you will ask the congressmen now, the supermajority of
congressmen now would like Speaker Alan Cayetano to continue,” Villafuerte said
in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel.
“Nakita niyo naman yung performance ng Congress kahit may
break nagtratrabaho, tumaas ang rating. Highest rating ever for the House of
Representatives, everybody happy. Kung meron mang magreklamo, one or two people
which the Speaker will resolve,” he went on.
(You saw the performance of Congress, we work even though
we’re under a break, the ratings increased—highest rating ever for the House of
Representatives. Everybody happy. If ever there is anyone complaining, just one
or two people which the Speaker will resolve.)
Under the term-sharing deal brokered by President Rodrigo
Duterte, Cayetano will serve as House speaker for 15 months before Velasco
replaces him and leads Congress for the remaining 21 months.
Should the President let congressmen resolve the House
speakership row, Villafuerte said he believes Velasco will not stand a chance
in terms of numbers.
“Definitely not,” Villafuerte said when asked if Velasco
will be able to put up a good fight against Cayetano.
“With all due respect to Congressman Lord, ever since that
there was an announcement of 15-21 (term-sharing), he was never really active
in Congress,” he added.
Velasco should have partnered with Cayetano when he was
declared as the replacement for the latter, Villafuerte noted.
“I haven’t seen or heard Congressman Lord be active in any
major issue. We don’t see him in Congress. It was really his choice not to be
the presumptive speaker. The congressmen now are saying we’d rather let Speaker
Alan to continue because he’s active, he performs, he’s qualified, these are
the general sentiments of congressmen,” he said.
Asked about Duterte’s “kawawa naman si Lord” (poor Lord)
remark, Villafuerte said it must be because he would prefer Cayetano to
continue as House Speaker.
“I don’t want to speculate what that means for me
personally, when he says that, Alan should continue, kawawa naman si Lord na
hindi siya makaka-take over (poor Lord he cannot take over). That’s my personal
view. I cannot really clearly, categorically interpret what those words are,”
he said.
