Duterte got assurance from Velasco, Cayetano to work together for passage of 2021 budget – Palace

October 13, 2020

New House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco and his predecessor Taguig City Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano have assured President Rodrigo Duterte to cooperate in passing the proposed budget for next year, Malacanang said on Tuesday.

In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte's meeting with the two former rivals for the speakership pushed through in Malacanang even if prior to it, Cayetano announced his irrevocable resignation as the Speaker while Velasco's election as the new leader of the House was ratified by the majority members of Congress.

"In the course of the meeting, the two representatives agreed to work together as one majority in order to ensure the timely passage of the 2021 budget and other priority legislation of the Duterte administration," he said.

In a text message to reporters, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, who was present in the meeting, said Duterte talked to Velasco and Cayetano "like a father."

"All is well...he (Duterte) advised them to unite, one majority and pass the budget for the Filipino people," he said.

Also present in the meeting was Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

Prior to Tuesday's developments, Velasco and Cayetano were engaged in the speakership dispute.

Cayetano and his supporters claimed that he remained the Speaker as Velasco did not have the majority support of all the members of the House.

Velasco, on the other hand, insisted that Cayetano should honor the term-sharing agreement that Duterte brokered between them in 2019. It was agreed that Cayetano would serve as the Speaker for 15 months or until October, while Velasco for the remaining 21 months.

Due to the speakership squabble, the passage of the proposed budget for next year was derailed, prompting Duterte to intervene. Celerina Monte/DMS