"The support that Speaker Velasco is getting from his Yellow allies may not be able to save him from losing his post."
After removing from their posts perceived political foes when assumed the speakership of the Lower House late last year, Speaker Lord Allan Jay Velasco axed two more solons from their posts. He allegedly believes they have failed him.
First to fall was Zamboanga Sibugay Rep. Wilter “Sharky” Palma who was removed as Deputy Majority Leader. He was replaced by Iloilo Rep. Lorenz Defensor.
After Palma, Quezon City Rep. Anthony Peter “Onyx” Crisologo was replaced by Palawan Rep. Gil Acosta as Assistant Majority Leader.
Crisologo was named vice chairperson of the Committee of Games and Amusements, while Palma was chosen to become a vice chairman of the Committee on Legislative Franchises, replacing Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Mike Defensor.
According to sources, Palma was removed as Deputy Speaker after he reportedly failed to control the plenary session when Defensor delivered his privilege speech, exposing Velasco’s and Appropriation Chair Eric Yap’s move to realign P20 billion from for the Uniformed Personnel’s Pension Fund (Yap later owned up to the responsibility, absolving the Speaker).
Crisologo, on the other hand, allegedly earned Velasco’s ire after posts in the social media showing his father, former Congressman Bingbong Crisologo teaming up with Defensor, went viral.
And then, another: The website politics.com.ph ran a story alleging that Velasco is planning to oust Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez as Majority Leader.
Citing sources, Politiko bared Velasco’s plan to go after Romualdez has become clearer after Velasco removed two of his Lakas-CMD party mates as House leaders, namely Palma and Crisologo.
Politiko says Velasco is reportedly eyeing either Deputy Speaker Mikee Romero or Deputy Majority Leader Rimpy Bondoc to take over Romualdez’s post.
This, according to the online news website, could be the reason Velasco flew to Davao City last week.
The news article adds that according to their sources, Velasco wanted to seek “clearance” for his plan from Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, a major power broker in the House.
Velasco’s Davao trip has been confirmed by a Facebook post shared by Davao City Information Officer Jeffrey Tupas on Friday (March 12) showing Velasco and his wife having dinner with Sara.
But even with “clearance” from Duterte, Politiko avers that Velasco’s plan to remove Romualdez could backfire as Lakas-CMD has become a formidable force in the House.
“From having only 35 members in early 2020, the party’s membership has grown to 50 after some lawmakers from National Unity Party and Nacionalista Party jumped ship following the contentious speakership fight between Velasco and Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano,” Politiko’s article states.
In fact, Lakas-CMD provided the crucial swing vote to help Velasco unseat Cayetano as Speaker in October last year. Party stalwarts supported the Marinduque lawmaker after Duterte endorsed him as Speaker.
“Velasco’s plan to remove Romualdez could trigger another election for Speaker,” it added.
If the allegations raised by Politiko is true, Velasco is really going overboard. Lest he forgets, he could not have achieved his dream of becoming a Speaker had Romualdez not agreed to the treaty brokered by President Rodrigo Duterte among the three contenders for the Speakership then – Romualdez, Cayetano, and him.
That time, it was Romualdez who was emerging as the top choice for the Speakership. While he and Cayetano agreed to share terms, Romualdez settled for the post of Majority Leader for the whole duration of the 18thCongress. And Velasco should honor that agreement in the same manner he asked Cayetano to honor theirs.
But should he decide not to, Politiko’s source’s assumption that it could trigger another election for the Speaker might hold water as Lakas-CMD members and supporters withdrawing their support from Velasco could shift the balance against his favor.
The support he is getting from his Yellow allies may not be able to save him from losing his post. His fortress is standing on shaky ground.