Published October 13, 2020 11:11am
Updated October 13, 2020 11:33am
By LLANESCA T. PANTI, ERWIN COLCOL, GMA News
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Members of the House of Representatives who elected Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco as Speaker on Monday gathered at the Batasang Pambansa on Tuesday morning to hold a plenary session at any moment.
In a Facebook live video report by GMA News’ Sandra Aguinaldo, the lawmakers were seen flocking to the session hall for a plenary session expected to start in 10 minutes.
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Before 11 a.m., Velasco was seen entering the plenary hall.
The special session—called by President Rodrigo Duterte—is supposed to resume at 3 pm but the Velasco voters want to resume earlier amid Taguig Representative Alan Peter Cayetano’s refusal to yield the speakership to Velasco.
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Velasco has been earlier elected as the new Speaker by a majority vote of 186 lawmakers in an informal session.
“Ang expectation, 'pag nagkaroon ng sesyon, maaaring mapalitan si Speaker Alan Cayetano,” Aguinaldo said.
“They claim they have the numbers already, ‘yung camp ni Velasco,” Aguinaldo added.
In an interview, Bagong Henerasyon party-list Representative Bernadette Herrera-Dy said they want to put an end to the speakership issue before the expected resumption of the session at 3 p.m.
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"As committed to the President, October 13 to 16 ang special session kaya ayaw naming ma-disrupt ang any special session," she said.
"Ang sabi naman nila 3 p.m. pa ang simula ng budget kaya gusto namin ngayong umaga, tapusin na natin 'yung labanan sa Speaker para once and for all we can continue and concentrate on the budget as requested by the President and our job to the Filipino people," she added.
Although there have been claims that what pro-Velasco congressmen wanted to do was "illegal," Herrera-Dy said the legality of the proceedings at the House rests with the majority.
"Kaya nandito kami para mapakita na we have the numbers and we want to install a new Speaker of the House in accordance to the term-sharing agreement. Kami naman we want to honor the term-sharing agreement," she said.
Eventually, the pro-Velasco lawmakers were allowed to enter the plenary hall after "outgoing" Sergeant-at-Arms Ramon Apolinario agreed to open it, said DIWA party-list Representative Michael Aglipay.
Aglipay then shared a photo with reports showing Velasco seated at the Speaker's rostrum.
WATCH: Allies of Speaker Lord Allan Velasco have entered the House session hall.
(Courtesy DIWA Party List Rep. Mike Aglipay) @gmanewspic.twitter.com/ZVFQc2ibuP— Victoria Tulad (@victoriatulad) October 13, 2020
As this was happening, Duterte called Cayetano and Velasco to a meeting at the Palace. —KG, GMA News