Velasco takes oath as Speaker before Duterte on his 43rd birthday

November 10, 2020

President Rodrigo Duterte has administered the oath of office of Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Jay Velasco as the new House Speaker.

The oath-taking ceremony took place on Monday, coinciding with Velasco's 43rd birthday, at the Rizal Hall in Malacanang where huge events are usually being hosted.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Senator Christopher "Bong" Go were also present.

Velasco assumed the speakership last month after a controversial battle with House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano.

Initially, despite a term-sharing agreement which Duterte brokered in 2019, Cayetano refused to step down as Speaker, insisting that Velasco had no support from the majority of the members of the House.

His resignation as Speaker was even rejected by his allies.

But after a few days, following Velasco's meeting with presidential daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, the Marinduque lawmaker was elected by the majority members of the House, resulting to Cayetano's ouster. Celerina Monte/DMS