Cayetano dangles longer term for lawmakers
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Thu, 11 Jul 2019 06:46:37 +0000
EVEN before he could assume the speakership, Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano dangled a proposal for a longer term for his colleagues, alongside federalism.
“While we push for federalism, I think there is a way that the Senate will agree that we push either for four years, no term limit; of five years with a three-term limit,” Cayetano told his fellow congressmen in a gathering on Wednesday night.
The Taguig representative spoke to about 30 lawmakers, most of whom were known supporters of Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, who was also present in the meeting and actively rallying for support for Cayetano.
“It is not a political thing, it is a practical thing,” Cayetano said, citing administrative restrictions and limitations that have hindered the country’s development.
Under the 1987 Constitution, House members can serve for three consecutive three-year terms, for a total of nine years maximum.
The lawmaker clarified, however, that the measure should only be implemented in the next Congress.
“Kanina may nagsabi na sa media, ‘Si Alan is pushing for term extension’ which is not true. 15-21 nga eh. Baka iniisip ng iba, gusto kong gawin four or five years para ma-extend din kami. Hindi po ‘yun ang sinabi ko (A while ago, someone from the media said, ‘Alan is pushing for term extension’ which is not true. It is 15-21. The others might think those four to five years will be for us so that we can extend. That’s not what I mean),” he said.
Duterte recommended that Cayetano share the three-year term with Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, with him sitting for the first 15 months while Velasco would take the next 21 months.
Cayetano said that he wished that a new speaker and a chairman of committee on accounts would be elected under a 15-month term, while deputy speakers would be given titles according to their specializations.
Prior to Duterte’s intervention, Cayetano was the unpopular choice among House members. Velasco led the race with 200 votes followed by Romualdez with 167 votes.
Another speaker hopeful, Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab was previously endorsed by Duterte’s children, Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio in an effort to counter the suggested term-sharing deal.
Meanwhile, Romualdez seemed to have conceded, claiming that he and the other lawmakers were “firmly, solidly, unanimously, behind [Cayetano’] leadership.” GLEE JALEA
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