President Rodrigo Duterte meets with Congressman Alan Peter Cayetano and newly-installed House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco to discuss the issues that propelled the House of Representatives into the limelight earlier this week. /PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO, Alberto Alcain
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� President Rodrigo Duterte has urged rival lawmakers Alan Peter Cayetano and newly installed Speaker Lord Allan Velasco to work together to ensure the timely passage of the 2021 national budget during a meeting in Malaca帽ang on Tuesday afternoon.
According to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, the two lawmakers 鈥渁greed to work together as one majority [to] ensure the timely passage of the 2021 budget and other priority legislation of the Duterte administration.鈥�
Duterte鈥檚 former aide and now Senator Christopher 鈥淏ong鈥� Go also confirmed the President鈥檚 appeal for unity.
鈥淎ll is well. Parang tatay si Tatay Digong (na) kinausap mga anak niya. Pinayuhan (sila) na mag kaisa. One majority and pass the budget para sa sambayanang Pilipino,鈥� Go told reporters in a text message.
(All is well. President Duterte is like a father who talked to his children. He advised them to be united as one majority and pass the budget for the Filipino people.)
Duterte summoned Cayetano and Velasco as a power struggle has threatened to derail the approval of the country鈥檚 pandemic war chest, shortly after some 186 lawmakers voted to ratify the Marinduque Representative鈥檚 election as Speaker.
Cayetano then tendered his 鈥渋rrevocable鈥� resignation. [ac]