By MASIDING NOOR YAHYA

MANILA

Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco said he would offer the position of a deputy speaker to Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano or a position that Cayetano would want.

Velasco was elected new ‘house speaker’ by his allies in a session held at the Celebrity Sports Club in Quezon City on Monday which Cayetano called “fake.”

With 186 affirmative votes, the Speaker’s post became vacant. 1-PACMAN Partylist Rep. Mikee Romero then formally nominated Velasco as Speaker of the House.

Majority Leader Martin Romualdez said, “I think he has the full support of the House for the majority leadership.”

Fake Session

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said the session which elected Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco as House Speaker was “fake.”

“Ang purpose nila, manggulo. The last time I checked, ang Celebrity Sports Club ay hindi Kongreso. They are throwing the Constitution to waste. Fake session ang ginagawa nila,” Cayetano said.

“This is a very disturbing precedent. Sabi nila, basta may quorum. Basta may quorum, they can meet any day and anywhere and do whatever they want? Kung valid ‘yan, banana republic na tayo,” he added.

However, for Velasco, the Speakership row between him and Cayetano already ended as he was elected by the “majority” of House members.

“Tapos na po ang issue ng speakership today because we have majority of the House members with us,” he said.

Before the session in the Celebrity Sports Club started, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said that a majority of House members, constituting a quorum, can resume the session.

He added that most attendance members could also hold sessions outside the regularly designated venues under the Constitution.

During the said session in Celebrity Sports Club, the lawmakers also elected a “new” Secretary-General and Sergeant of Arms of the House of Representatives.