Cayetano ‘coup’ looms in House, says Pulong Duterte
Credit to Author: GLEE JALEA| Date: Thu, 11 Jul 2019 05:22:47 +0000
JUST days after President Rodrigo Duterte endorsed Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano as one of two Speakers in the 18th Congress under a term-sharing scheme, it seems that the fight isn’t over with an alleged “coup d’etat” being plotted against Cayetano, according to no less than Davao City Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte, the Chief Executive’s son.
A screenshot of a text message which allegedly came from the lawmaker was shared to the media, claiming that one of the three other speaker hopefuls is planning to oust Cayetano on July 22, when the 18th Congress formally convenes.
“May election pa sa July 22 at doon ako mas interesado, kung sino ang mananalo. Kasi may balita balita, may isa sa tatlo na balak mag coup d’etat on the day,” the text read.
(There will still be a July 22 election and that is where I am interested, who will win. There are talks that one of the three is planning a coup d’etat on that day.)
“Mukhang hindi pa tapos ang laban para sa kanilang tatlo at sa mga backers (It looks like the battle is not yet done for the three and their backers),” it added.
Prior to the President’s pronouncement on Monday, three other lawmakers were gunning for the speakership: Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, and Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab.
Velasco was the popular choice among lawmakers with around 200 votes, Romualdez with 167, while Ungab was backed by the Duterte Coalition formed by Paolo and his sister, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
Cayetano has a small number of votes and a backing from select Cabinet men, according to some lawmakers.
Congressmen in favor of other candidates adhered to the President’s announcement, which included a “15-21” term-sharing scheme between Cayetano and Velasco.
Of the three speaker aspirants, only Romualdez had conceded, and even rallied support for Cayetano in a gathering with other lawmakers on Wednesday night.
Anakalusugan Partylist Rep. Mike Defensor shared a “text message,” which allegedly came from Duterte’s daughter urging other lawmakers to junk Cayetano, which the mayor denied.
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