(Eagle News)– President Rodrigo Duterte will meet today with Reps. Alan Peter Cayetano and Lord Velasco, who have been at odds over the Speakership.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the meeting will take place at 12:30 p.m. in Malago, in Malacañang.
Roque said the meeting was to ensure the passage of the 2021 national budget, which, if passed, was supposed to be used against COVID-19.
Earlier, the President said he was fed up with politics in the House, and appealed to lawmakers to pass the proposed P4.5-trillion budget instead.
The President also called for a special session of Congress starting today until October 16 for the same.
On Monday, 186 congressmen declared the Speaker post vacant and “elected” Velasco outside of House sessions, which had been suspended supposedly until Nov. 16.
Velasco’s allies had slammed the early suspension as an attempt by Cayetano to retain the Speakership, which he had agreed to cede to Velasco after 15 months, or this October, under a gentleman’s agreement brokered by the President in July.
Under the pact, Velasco would serve as Speaker for the remaining 21 months.
Cayetano, however, slammed Velasco’s “election” as a sham.