Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said Monday he is “open” to serving until the end of the 18th Congress in 2022” if Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, with whom he has a term-sharing agreement, tells him to do so.
“Am I open to the possibility? What if Congressman Velasco is the one directly telling me that I take charge? I cannot force him to be (the Speaker),” he said.
“We are just human. We are also public servants. We believe in our own leadership because how can other people believe in my leadership if I (myself) don’t believe in my leadership?” he added.
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“Having said that, he (Velasco) also has the leadership (quality). He has his on following. He is also a party mate of the President, (and) I respect that.”
President Rodrigo Duterte brokered an agreement under which Cayetano would take the first 15 months as speaker, follows by Velasco, who would sit as Speaker for the remaining 21 months.
Cayetano said he intended to honor his agreement with Velasco, though he also said he would see the President after his 15 months were over to find out if he should just stay on the job.
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On Monday, he also said he could not stop lawmakers from suggesting that he stay on as Speaker.
Earlier, two members of the Makabayan bloc urged Cayetano to abide by his term-sharing agreement with Velasco.
Party-list Reps. Arlene Brosas of Gabriela and France Castro of ACT Teachers said the agreement would be a sham if Cayetano stays on and will not give way to Velasco as part of the agreement that was brokered by President Duterte shortly before the 18th Congress convened.
“It’s a gentleman’s agreement, I hope they will abide by it,” Brosas said.
Castro said the pronouncement of Cayetano that he will have to consult with the President is an indication that he will not step down after his 15-month term.