I've not turned back on speakership agreement, says Lord Velasco

Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco on Tuesday evening broke his silence on the issue of the term-sharing agreement between him and Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, hours after Capiz Representative Fredenil Castro chided him over his supposed inaction on the affairs of the chamber.

In a Facebook post, Velasco said that he chose to be silent in the duration of Cayetano's term "in deference and respect to the sitting Speaker."

"My silence does not mean I am disinterested nor I have turned my back on the covenant," he said.

"'Mum on issues' means I just don’t want to call attention to myself. Being party to the term-sharing agreement, one does not and should not seek to compete with the current Speaker as a gentleman’s agreement is in force. We will have our turn at the right time," he added.

In a privilege speech earlier in the day, Castro slammed Velasco and his camp for purportedly sowing intrigues and causing disorder at the House amid their alleged role in the supposed plot to oust the current leadership.

He criticized Velasco for allegedly wanting to take the speakership post from Cayetano when he himself has supposedly failed to cooperate in the affairs of the House.

"Instead of being the leader that he said he was, Cong. Velasco showed his true self. He did not work, he did not contribute, he did not defend this House, he did not lead. So why expect us to follow him?" Castro said.

"It was his mistake to think that he could just do nothing in 15 months and then just one day appear in Congress to claim the speakership as if it was his birthright," he added.

Castro also reminded Velasco that the Office of the Speaker is "primus interpares" or the "first among equals," but he said the Marinduque lawmaker "cannot claim to be first when he's not even an equal of many of those who are here today."

"He is not equal in their work and contribution to the success of this chamber. He is not equal in dedication to the people. He is not equal in treating his colleagues with respect. So how can he ever expect to be first among us?" he added.

But Velasco said ever since he became a lawmaker, he has always worked quietly and away from publicity while supporting the legislative agenda of President Rodrigo Duterte.

"When both parties finally honor the agreement, I will show my colleagues the kind of leadership I espouse," he said.

"Thereafter, at the end of my term, my peers can then be the judge of my loyal service to God, to the President, and ultimately, to the Filipino people," he added.

It was Duterte himself who brokered the term-sharing agreement between Cayetano and Velasco at the beginning of the 18th Congress in July last year.

Cayetano was to hold the speakership for 15 months and Velasco would take over to finish the next 21 months. -NB, GMA News