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Cayetano elected Sp"akeq

vo\,vs to push PRRD agenda
By JovEE MARrE N. DELA C\uzt

266
@joveerxarie be taken b-y Velaso.
Meanwhile, Leyte Rep. Martin
EEDING the endorsement of President Romualdez was appointed as new
majority leadet as suggested by
Duterte, members of the House of ' President Duterte.
Representatives on Monday elect6d The House also named Davao
Votes obtained by Cayetano to Rep. Paolo Duterte, South Cotabato
lagujg Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano as new I bag the Speakert post Rep. Ferdinand Hernandez, Sor.
Speaker of the lower chamber, ending days of sogon Rep. Evelina Escudero, An-
resigns after 15 months, then we tique Rep. Loren Legarda, Abono
tension amid speculation that people cloie to will have to elect a new Speak- Rep. Conrado Estrella III, Surigao del
the President would move to siuttie his dream er," Duterte said. Representative SurRep. Prospero Pichay Jr., Kampi
despite the latter's endorsement. Duterte suddenly canceled the Party-iist Rep. Roberto Puno, Cibac
breakfast meeting he had called Rep. EduardoVillanueva, Pampanga
with lawmakers hours before the Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr,, Surigao
election of the new Speaker. Rep. Johnny Pimentel and Cama-
With 266 votes, Cayetano, the Cayetano's win quelled talk President Duterte endorsed Cay- rines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Vil-
defeatedrunningmate of President of a "coup" floated by Davao City etano and Marinduque Rep. Lord lafuerte as deputy speakers.
Duterte in the 2016 national elec- Rep. Paolo Duterte. Cayetano said Allan Velasco as next Speakers of Cayetano also named Cavite Rep.
tion, setured the highest position, theyounger Duterte has agreed to the lower chamber in term-sharing AbrahamTolentino as chairman of
beating Manila Rep. Bienvenido take thi post of Deputy Speaker agreement. the House Committee onAccounts
Abante Jr., who got 28 votes. for Political Affairs offered to Cayetano will occupythe Speak- and Davao Rep. Isidro Ungab as
Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza, Mag- him. er's post for the first 15 months chaitman of the House Committee i
dilo Rep. Manuel Cabochan and "I am against term-sharing while the remaining 21 of the 36 on Appropriations.
AlbayRep. Edcel Lagman abstained. agreement, howerier, if the Speaker months of the 18tl Congress will SEB "qAyBrANo," 42
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Cayetano elected Speaker,
vows to push PRRD agenda
CoNTINVBD lRoMA8
lmage
IN his speech, Cayetano vowed to
prioritize passage ofthe legislative '
agenda ofthe Duterte administra-
tion and change the image of the
House of Representatives.
'As we seekto win the camPaign
against drugs, crime, and corruP-
tion, we also seek to destroy and
.win the battle against Poverty
and other things that are killing
the Filipino people in our nation.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, or
Mayor Rody as he is fondly called,
wants a safe and comfortable life
for all," he said.
"We will do what is right, so
that we will have a Congress that
is relevant, responsive and reliable.
United andwe commit to God, our
people, the wotk of the 18th Con-
gress. Sa lahat po sa inyo, sa miy-
embro ng L8th Congress, sa lahat
ng nagdadasal sa ating Kongreso,
maraming-maraming salamat po sa
inyongtiwala. Sanq po ako'y maging
worlhy qt sand po qy tulungan niyo
ako para sa loob ng 75 na buwan ay
mapagsilbihan po natin ang ating
mga kababayang mabuti at lahat po
ng nasa legislative agenda, ubusin
na natin at ipasa na natin dahil mas
magandang magawa na natin ito
kaagad," he added..
Cayetano said the lower cham-
ber will prioritize the passage of
the 2020 national budget and the
remaining tax measures of the
Duterte administration in the first
four months of the House of Rep-
resentatives.
President Duterte is expected to
transmit the 2020 national budget
to the Congress after his Sona.
Taxes
MEANWHILE, the still-to-tre
*
{ pAri,e - AP
approved tax packages are Pack-
age 18 to reform the Motor Ve-
hicle Users' Charge; Package 2 for
the reduction of corporate income
tax reduction and streamlining of
fiscal incentives; Package 2 P1us,
which proposes additional ex-
cise taxes on tobacco and alcohol
products, as well as increase the
government's share from mining;
Package 3, which coversreforms in
proiertyvaluation; and Package 4,
which proposes the rationalization
of capital income tax.
Cayetano also vowed to Push
passage ofbills for abetter life for
all Filipinos, including teachers, se-
nior citizens, youngpeople, OFWs,
professionals, teachers, govern-
ment wotkers, workers in the Pri-
vate sector, or out-of-schoolyouth,
- rkhor poor, young or old.
Minority leadership
MEANWHILE, Iawmakers from
different political parties on Mon-
day created a miirority coalition to
assure a democratic Iegislative pro-
cess in the House
Quezon City Rep. Kit Belmonte
said lawmakers from the minoritY
agreedto supportAbante as minor-
ity leader.
"Coming from diverse politi-
cal parties and blocs, we band to-
gether today to form a coalition
to offer and perform an effective
fiscalizing role as Minority in the
House of Representatives for the
18th Congrdss," he said in a news
conference.
Belmonte said the minoritY
coalition recognized the ipPer-
ative to uphold the checks and
balances of pbwer iriithe Legis-
lative branch, thir{'tfid-need for
an independent voice. {hat will
[iscalize and scrutinize.
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