Duterte: Not honoring term-sharing Cayetano’s problem

Pres. Duterte said they will solve the problem when they are there. #termsharing #AlanCayetano #LordVelasco

President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday night said they will answer the topic on term sharing between House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco once they cross the bridge on the subject matter.

The President made the remark in an interview by ABS-CBN and GMA News during the dedication of his great grandson Rodrigo Duterte III held at Lumpini Hall, Dusit Thani Residence Davao, Stella Hizon Reyes Drive, Pampanga, Davao City.

When asked if he’s okay with the possibility of the term-sharing not to be honored anymore, the President said the matter will be answered in the right time.

“We — we should answer that question when we cross the bridge. Okay lang [It’s okay],” the President said.

“Ganito ‘yan. Ang usapan namin before the election at saka — not really election, ‘yung dito sa ano. Ang usapan namin is sharing the entire — half, half [Its like this. Our discussion was sharing the entire –half, half.”

“Ngayon [Now], if anyone of them would not honor it, be it Lord Velasco or si Peter Cayetano that is — that would be his decision. But iyon, he has to take care that there is an agreement of sharing. If you violate it… Usapan ‘yan,” he added

On the question whether or not he is satisfied with the work of Congress under the leadership of Cayateno as House Speaker, the President said he is.

“Yes, of course. Sabi ko [I said] he is a shining star,” he said.

According to the President, there is still no term-sharing because it has not yet arrived.

He added that the matter was not discussed during the baptism of his great grandson.

“Wala. Ngayon? Ah social,” the President said.

“Walang term-sharing. Hindi pa kasi dumating eh.”

” Iyon ang usapan [That was talked about}. That was an agreement — a solemn agreement between the three of us. If you want to use the vernacular, usapang lalaki ‘yon,” he said

Cayetano earlier assured that he would heed President Duterte’s order to share the speakership in following the deal he had forged with Velasco.

“There’s no problem because whatever the President says, that I will follow. So, everyone should not think that there will be a problem,” Cayetano said in a chance interview at the Senate.

“The President was just responding to the question ‘what will happen if that (agreement) will not push through,’” Cayetano said.

“But from the start, I have been very consistent. The head of our coalition is the President, so the President will be followed,” he added.

Duterte was firm in saying that “there will be a problem” if Cayetano will not honor the 15-21 term-sharing agreement they made last July.

The deal meant Cayetano is to serve as House Speaker for the first 15 months of the last half of the President’s six-year term.

Velasco, meanwhile, will complete the last 21 months for his turn as House Speaker.

“I was there when we agreed– three of us. And I announced it after. He does not want to honor it. That’s his problem,” the President said referring to Cayetano.

“It is going to be a problem, so we will solve the problem when we are there. As of now, there (is no problem). It remains to be hypothetical,” Duterte added.

Cayetano explained again that staying on his position beyond 15 months by claiming that House members were ecstatic about the performance of the House, particularly in passing the budget early and the high approval rating of the chamber.

He claimed that he pursued the position “not to give the President a problem but to solve the problem.”

The House leader further assured that the congressmen will follow Duterte’s order on the speakership as the majority of the House members are part of the “coalition.”

“I think most of the congressmen are members of the coalition. So that will not happen — that the President will not be followed by the members as far as choosing the speaker is concerned. That’s what I think,” he said.

Before the start of the 18th Congress, Cayetano, Velasco and current Majority Leader Martin Romualdez got into a tight speakership race.

As the three were considered as the closest allies of Duterte, the President and the speakership contenders came into a deal known as the “Magellan formula,” referring to the year of the Portuguese navigator’s arrival in the Philippines.