HEEDING the endorsement of President Duterte, members of the House of Representatives on Monday elected Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano as new Speaker of the lower chamber, ending days of tension amid speculation that people close to the President would move to scuttle his dream despite the latter’s endorsement.
With 266 votes, Cayetano, the defeated running mate of President Duterte in the 2016 national election, secured the highest position, beating Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr., who got 28 votes.
Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza, Magdalo Rep. Manuel Cabochan and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman abstained.
Cayetano’s win quelled talk of a “coup” floated by Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte. Cayetano said the younger Duterte has agreed to take the post of Deputy Speaker for Political Affairs offered to him.
“I am against term-sharing agreement, however, if the Speaker resigns after 15 months, then we will have to elect a new Speaker,” Duterte said. Representative Duterte suddenly canceled the breakfast meeting he had called with lawmakers hours before the election of the new Speaker.
President Duterte endorsed Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco as next Speakers of the lower chamber in term-sharing agreement.
Cayetano will occupy the Speaker’s post for the first 15 months while the remaining 21 of the 36 months of the 18th Congress will be taken by Velaso.
Meanwhile, Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez was appointed as new majority leader as suggested by President Duterte.
The House also named Davao Rep. Paolo Duterte, South Cotabato Rep. Ferdinand Hernandez, Sorsogon Rep. Evelina Escudero, Antique Rep. Loren Legarda, Abono Rep. Conrado Estrella III, Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr., Kampi Party-list Rep. Roberto Puno, Cibac Rep. Eduardo Villanueva, Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr., Surigao Rep. Johnny Pimentel and Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte as deputy speakers.
Cayetano also named Cavite Rep. Abraham Tolentino as chairman of the House Committee on Accounts and Davao Rep. Isidro Ungab as chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations.
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In his speech, Cayetano vowed to prioritize passage of the legislative agenda of the Duterte administration and change the image of the House of Representatives.
“As we seek to win the campaign against drugs, crime, and corruption, we also seek to destroy and win the battle against poverty and other things that are killing the Filipino people in our nation. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, or Mayor Rody as he is fondly called, wants a safe and comfortable life for all,” he said.
“We will do what is right, so that we will have a Congress that is relevant, responsive and reliable. United and we commit to God, our people, the work of the 18th Congress. Sa lahat po sa inyo, sa miyembro ng 18th Congress, sa lahat ng nagdadasal sa ating Kongreso, maraming-maraming salamat po sa inyong tiwala. Sana po ako’y maging worthy at sana po ay tulungan niyo ako para sa loob ng 15 na buwan ay mapagsilbihan po natin ang ating mga kababayang mabuti at lahat po ng nasa legislative agenda, ubusin na natin at ipasa na natin dahil mas magandang magawa na natin ito kaagad,” he added.
Cayetano said the lower chamber will prioritize the passage of the 2020 national budget and the remaining tax measures of the Duterte administration in the first four months of the House of Representatives.
President Duterte is expected to transmit the 2020 national budget to the Congress after his Sona.
Taxes
Meanwhile, the still-to-be approved tax packages are Package 1B to reform the Motor Vehicle Users’ Charge; Package 2 for the reduction of corporate income tax reduction and streamlining of fiscal incentives; Package 2 Plus, which proposes additional excise taxes on tobacco and alcohol products, as well as increase the government’s share from mining; Package 3, which covers reforms in property valuation; and Package 4, which proposes the rationalization of capital income tax.
Cayetano also vowed to push passage of bills for a better life for all Filipinos, including teachers, senior citizens, young people, OFWs, professionals, teachers, government workers, workers in the private sector, or out-of-school youth, rich or poor, young or old.
Minority leadership
Meanwhile, lawmakers from different political parties on Monday created a minority coalition to assure a democratic legislative process in the House
Quezon City Rep. Kit Belmonte said lawmakers from the minority agreed to support Abante as minority leader.
“Coming from diverse political parties and blocs, we band together today to form a coalition to offer and perform an effective fiscalizing role as Minority in the House of Representatives for the 18th Congress,” he said in a news conference.
Belmonte said the minority coalition recognized the imperative to uphold the checks and balances of power in the Legislative branch, thus, the need for an independent voice that will fiscalize and scrutinize.