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| Philippine senator Alan Peter Cayetano speaks at the Senate in Manila, Philippines, on May 2, 2017.(File photo by=Reuters/Erik De Castro) |
[Asia News Communication = Reporter Reakkana] At least 202 of the 299-member House of Representatives have backed the continued speakership of Alan Peter Cayetano.
The lawmakers signed the “Manifesto of Recommitment to the Filipino People and the Leadership of Alan Peter Cayetano” – which essentially goes against the term sharing agreement between the Taguig-Pateros congressman and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco was brokered by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2019.Deputy Speaker Dan Fernandez confirmed Monday the routing of the manifesto among House legislators as well as the number of lawmakers supporting Cayetano’s stay as Speaker. Fernandez admitted he also signed the document, which copy was obtained by members of the media on Sunday.
"This is not the right time to change leadership. Those who signed the manifesto really intended to sign and they were the ones who did not want a change in leadership because of the current situation",Fernandez said in an interview with reporters.Fernandez also bared that it was not those who were close to Cayetano who initiated the manifesto.According to the manifesto obtained by INQUIRER.net, the manifesto was signed by some House leaders as well as leaders from different political parties. The manifesto also called for the immediate passage of the proposed national budget for 2021.
