Nagresign si Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano bilang House Speaker ngunit tinanggihan ng mga kapwa mambabatas. Ginawa niya ang resignation matapos makausap si Pangulong Duterte at Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, in Malacañang.
“Cong Velasco told the President that he is ready. Then I think the best time to prove it is now. Gusto mo ng September 30? Sige. If colleagues want you today, sige, ikaw na.”
“What Velasco did last night makes it impossible for me to finish the budget. If our colleagues want you (Velasco) to take over today, ikaw na. I’m offering my resignation here and now.”
“So I can step aside, but I can’t guarantee he will be elected. In fact, I will make a fearless forecast: Hindi siya mananalo.”
“Or if I step aside, mananalo, after one week, makukudeta siya. Bakit? Maraming popular sa Kongreso eh.”
The results of the nominal vote are as follows: 184 voted “yes” to reject the resignation, ergo they want Cayetano to remain as Speaker; one voted “no,” while nine abstained from voting.
Velasco must win a plenary vote to fully consummate the term-sharing deal.
Cayetano enjoys the support of at least 202 out of the 299 sitting House members based on a manifesto that surfaced over the weekend.