DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said her involvement in the House of Representatives is because of her regional party, Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP).
This was Duterte-Carpio's response to the media on Monday, October 12, when asked about the election of Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco as the new House Speaker.
On the same day, Velasco was elected by 186 lawmakers as the new Speaker in a session held outside the Batasang Pambansa.
During the interview, journalists asked Duterte-Carpio's reaction to some comments that she had been the reason for the ouster of Taguig Representative Alan Peter Cayetano.
While the mayor did not directly respond to the question, she said: "The only thing nga naa ko involvement sa (The only thing that I have involvement in the) House of Representatives is because chairperson ko sa Hugpong ng Pagbabago. Hangtod diraa ra pud akong participation because of HNP (because I am the chairperson of Hugpong ng Pagbabago. That is only my participation)."
Duterte-Carpio is the founder and chairperson of HNP, which was launched in 2018. Before Velasco was elected as House Speaker, he had met with the presidential daughter.
Duterte-Carpio confirmed that the Marinduque representative had visited her to discuss the speakership vote of HNP, a regional party formed by the mayor.
During their meeting, she said members of HNP will respect the term-sharing agreement on the speakership.
"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 said.
Velasco's allies issued a manifesto early Monday morning, October 12, 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 Representative 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 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 7727, were terminated and the bill was passed on second reading.
The suspension, on motion by Speaker 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.
Under the term-sharing agreement brokered by President Rodrigo Duterte in July last year, 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.
But he urged his fellow lawmakers to vote for a Speaker who could unify all members of the lower chamber.