WEDNDSDAY / JULY u, 2019
WWW.INQUIRER.NET
With barely a week before the
opening of the 18th- Congress,
the battle for the House speak-
ership is far from over despite
President Duterte's endorse-
ment of Taguig Rep. Alan Peter
Cayetano, the Makabayan bloc
said on Tuesday.
"There are still strong whis-
pers that there are people who
want to contest that decisiod,"
said the bloc's leader, Biyan
Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate, who
earlier announced his plan to
run for Speaker.
15-21 term sharing
"Wb have seen that the issue
is not yet settled despite the
pronouncement of the Presi-
dent that he has an anointed,"
the opposition lawmaker told a
press briefing.
Under the. term-sharing
deal brokered by Mr. Duterte,
Cayetano will serv/as Speaker ofthe NationAiidress.
for the first 15 m6nths, with But Zarate said there was an
Marinduque Rep. Lord Altan effort to derail the deal, though
Velasco taking over for the re- ' he would not name names.
maining 21 months ' of the
term. Grumblings,
A third contender for tha ACT Teachers Rep. France
speakership, Leyte Rep. Martin Castro said she had also heard
Romualdez, will be the House of grumblings from disgruntled
majority leader. House mernbers who were un-
The next Speaker will be happy with the ferm-sharing
elected when the 18th Congress agreement.
opens on July 22, the same day "In Makabayan, we would
the President delivers his State like to assert the right of each
\ PAqd -46'/
lawmake! to vote according to
their conscienceand not the dic-
tates ofthe Presiilent," she said.
Clashes of interest
Zarate said itappeared that
a numbei of House members
were still not convinced that
Cayetano should lead the
House.
"There are also clashes ofin-
terest in terms of allocation of
House positions. You know
thire are posts that are highly
coveted," he said.
The Makabayan leader warnec
that the Cayetano-Velasco dea
would be disruptive to the 3oo.
strong chamber.
Another contender
As for the six-member Mak-
abayan blog he said his goup was
intent on pushing its own plans.
"We are still prepared" There's
no backing down. We will con-
test the speakership," Zarat€
said. rNo 1