‘No coup vs Cayetano at SONA’

Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano is sure of getting elected speaker when the 18th Congress convenes on Monday, his congressmen-allies said yesterday.

“It will be a smooth election. There will be no coup, it’s all in the media,” Albay Rep. Joey Salceda told the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum at Café Adriatico in Manila.

“I am with the group of Alan (Cayetano), I am with Martin (Romualdez of Leyte) and I am not hearing any coup rumor. The President has made a suggestion, he has suggested an arrangement and we will follow them. He hasn’t changed them,” Salceda said.

He was referring to the speakership term sharing brokered by President Duterte between Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco.

Duterte recommended Romualdez, another candidate for speaker, to be majority leader.

Earlier, presidential son Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte said a disgruntled candidate for speaker might just stage a coup against presumptive speaker Cayetano.

Another Cayetano ally, Rep. Mikee Romero of 1-Pacman, said that about 99 percent of all House members would heed the President’s suggestions.

“The President endorsed the socalled Magellan formula – 15 months for Cayetano and 21 months for Velasco, with Romualdez as majority leader. We will follow that. Before noon on Monday, we should have elected Alan as our speaker,” he said, referring to Cayetano.

Asked about the coup rumors, Romero, who heads the 54-member Party-list Coalition, said: “We have been hearing that, but at this stage, the President’s suggestions will be followed by our coalition and by all major political parties.”

Salceda said the House expects to elect its other key officers on Monday, including its 14 deputy speakers and the chairman of the committee on appropriations.

“Congressman Sid (Isidro) Ungab of Davao City will most likely head the appropriations committee,” Salceda said. Ungab chaired the committee in the 16th Congress.

He said Cayetano has adopted his suggestion that deputy speakers be authorized to oversee some committees, instead of just being asked to alternately preside over House sessions.

“For instance, we will have a deputy speaker for finance and economics who will supervise committees having to do with finance and economics. We will have a deputy speaker for education, social services, administrative matters and other concerns,” he said.

In his series of talks with his supporters last week, Cayetano introduced Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali Gonzales II as deputy speaker for internal affairs.

He was grooming Gonzales to be his majority leader before Duterte suggested Romualdez.

Cayetano said Gonzales would have authority over issues and matters that do not have to reach him.

In the case of committee assignments, Romero said based on information reaching him, Cayetano and Velasco are trying to work out an arrangement that would not disrupt the work of the various House committees. He said one formula being explored is for Cayetano to designate committee chairmen and Velasco would name the vice chairmen.

“After 15 months, there would be a switch of positions. That would not be disruptive, since both chairman and vice chairman would be familiar with the work of their committee. In effect, it’s a revolving door setup. That might just work,” he said.