DAVAO City Mayor and presidential daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio on Monday, October 12, 2020, said members of the House of Representatives belonging to the Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) will respect the term-sharing agreement on the speakership.
In a statement issued Monday, Duterte-Carpio confirmed that Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Jay Velasco had visited her to discuss the speakership vote of HNP, a regional party formed by the mayor.
"He (Velasco) intimated that there will be a speakership vote and he sought for my help, as the chairperson of HNP, with regard to the votes of the three HNP congressmen from Davao Region," Duterte-Carpio stated.
Velasco’s allies issued a manifesto early Monday morning calling on the super majority of the House to assemble, declare the position of Speaker vacant, and install Velasco as the new Speaker. Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab, representing HNP, was one of the 15 signatories.
Duterte-Carpio issued the statement a day after her photo with Velasco circulated online.
Duterte-Carpio said HNP, which was launched in 2018, "was created to propel unity and development in Davao Region and assist the administration of President (Rodrigo) Duterte”.
She said HNP fully supports the President's Proclamation No. 1027, which mandates Congress to hold a special session from October 13 to 16 and pass the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) without further delay.
The House suspended session on October 6, shortly after debates on the GAB, or House Bill No. 7727, were terminated and the bill was passed on second reading.
The suspension, on motion by Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, took effect more than a week ahead of schedule.
Under the approved legislative calendar for the 18th Congress, the House is supposed to go on break on October 17 and resume session on November 16.
Cayetano is trying to retain speakership despite a term-sharing agreement brokered by President Duterte in July last year.
Under the agreement, Cayetano will lead the House in the first 15 months of the 18th Congress, or until October 2020, while Velasco will serve for the remaining 21 months.
Duterte-Carpio's brother, Davao City Representative and House Deputy Speaker Paolo Z. Duterte, earlier issued a statement, saying he will not be taking sides in the conflict between Cayetano and Velasco.
However, he urged his fellow lawmakers to vote for a Speaker who could unify all members of the lower chamber.