lkdnga,
Business Insight
Monday, June24,2079
Squabble for speakership intensifies;
_
Martin vows reforms in budget process
BY WET{DELI. VIGILIA
A RANKING leader of the
House of
Representatives l erter-
day slammed rhe camp of aspirhg
speaker Rep. Lotd Alan Velasco
(PDP-Laban, Marinduque) for
allegedly capitalizing on this
Tuesday's mass oath-taking in
Malacaiang of politicians rvho
SQUABBLE
indecent " he said.
President Duterte is expected to
male an anoouncement this Fri&y,
possibly on his anbinted one,
Anothe{ candidate for speak-
er, Rep, Alan Peter Cayetano
(l.ll Taguig-Patetos), eadier said
Velasco mobilized a text btigade
inviting neophyte lawmakets to
join the event that vrill be at-
tended by mayots, councilors and
congressmen who supported Go's
senatorial bid.
Velasco's camp has been al-
legedly inviting neophyte con-
gfessmen to attend the event as
a show of fotce to make appeat
that he is Duterte's candidate
for Speaker.
Romualdez refused ti take
patt in Velasco's bashhg, instead
vowing to pursue reforms in tlle
legislative pro'cesses to avoid delay
in the enactrnent of the proposej
national budget for 2020.
"Arry delay in the enactment of
the national budget for next year
means economic slowdown," said
Romua.ldez, who is eyeing to suc
ceed Speaker Glotia Arroyo whose
term ends in a vreek.
Castro, among those vrho ac-
tively campraigned for Go, said
speakership candidates have to
work hard tb win the supporr of
the majority insread of riding or
aking advantage of Palace events.
"Let us give the neophyte mem-
bers the oppottunity to orrrn the
Ptesident during the time of
oath-taking and to enjoy the honor
accotded to them as new members
of the House of Representatives,"
he said.
"Good evening, Congressman.
This is from the Of6ce of Cong
Lord Allan Velasco. We wete re-
suppotted senator-elect Christo pocketing"
pher "Bong" Got bid by invit- "To grab, snatch or hijack the
ing neoPhtte congtessmen to limelight of those who ate sched-
atrefld it. uled ro take thei oarh, including
Majoritl leader Fredenil Casro, lawmakers and the honor of the
president of the National Uniq President administenog the oath
Parq' OJUP) rvho is backing Rep. for self-servrng poJiticil purpose
Ferdinand trIartin Romualdez, is highly immoml if not highly
(Lakas, Leyte) speakership bid,
cal1ed the mor.e "poJitical pick- See SQUABBLE > Page 83
quested to help coordinate for the "because they strongly feel that it
M1ss.gath glilg olnewly elected will only weaken the Speakership,
officials u'ith PRRD ne;t week, disrupt the fowof legifutive work
June 25,2019 (Iuesday),5:15 p.m., and more imporantly, derail key
at RizalHalt Malacaffan Palace. In measures thaiwe are mandated to
tlisrcgard, may we please request carry forward."
you to confitm your attendance as Romualdez noted that dre coun-
one of the oath-takers." said part try had a growt} rate of ooly 5.6
of the text message received by percent for the fust quarter of
some larmaLen. 2019, ot one percentage poiret
A party.list lawmakerwho asked down ftom dre govtfr atgit of
not to be identified said Rep. Ber- 6.6 percent for the same period.
nadette Herrera Dy (?L, Bagong He also said the reenaited bud-
Henerasyon), secretary general of ger of 2018 for *re 6rst quarter
dre Parry-lisr Coalition Foundadon, of the vear caused the .inabiliw
Inc. (?CFI), atso invired incoming to suffiiieritly fund rhe ongoing
hrsr term lawmakers-to dre event inflasructwe projects under the
through theit Viber account sfurce 'Build, Buitd, Build,'progtam.
she is reponedly campaigning for '.Should I get elbcied-as (the;
Velasco in the hope of becoming next spealer, iwant the proposei
a deputy speaker national budget to ger enacted be_
The 54-man PCFI has decided fore Congress akei its Christrnas
to wait for Duterte's annoulce- breaL,,,h- said.
ment before voting to choose Ideally, the House should ap-
their speaker, according to bloc prove its version before Congress
slg\smal Rep. Alfiedo Ga$in takes its AII Saints, Day breik to
(?L, Al<o Bicol). provide ample time for the Senate
Cayetano has also ctiticized to work on its versions and the
Velasco's camp for making it ap- congtessional conference commit-
peat thatl-re sponsored last q/eek's tee ot reconcile their confucting
fellowship dinner of neophyte vetuons.
congressmen .vith the Prcsident Romualdez also plaos to
when itwas organized bypresideo- strengthen the presidential Leg-
tial son and incoming Davao Ciry islativ-e Liaison Ofnce
fLLO],
Rep. Paolo Duterte. the key office that provides thi
Cayelano and Velasco accomfta- communications lines betveen
nied the President in Thailaod but the Legislative and the Execu-
Velasco's staff did not reply to re- tive, sairng the commuoications
porten wheo asked for comment. lines between t}le two ,.should be
Velasco's staff, howeve4 issued opened at all times.',
a statement belying Cayetano's The lawmaker said he inteods
claim that it was the Marinduque to name a deputy speaker for each
laymake;
_who
broached the idea of the 18 regions iomprising the
of term-sharing duting previous country.
discussions with the Prcsident. He said each deputy speaker
In his statemenq Velasco said he would be tasked to promote dia-
rejected the idea of term-sharing logs and build consensus among-,
in regi -neo,-) t/
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