Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco said on Friday, October 9, President Rodrigo Duterte also felt “duped” by Speaker Peter Alan Cayetano, who had rejected the term-sharing deal at the House of Representatives that the Chief Executive had brokered.

Velasco said in an interview on ANC’s Headstart that the President expressed his anger over developments in the speakership race when they had a private meeting on October 5. (READ: Velasco asked Duterte’s permission to run for Speaker – Roque)

“Kitang-kita ko ‘yung galit ng Pangulo. Sabi sa akin ni Pangulo, ‘Lord, hindi lang ikaw ang napahiya rito; tayong dalawa.’ Actually, the President used the word ‘nadenggoy.’ Sabi niya ‘Lord, nadenggoy tayong dalawa,” Velasco said.

(The President was clearly very angry. He told me, “Lord, you weren’t the only one who got embarrassed here; it’s both of us.” Actually, the President used the word “duped.” He said, “Lord, we were both duped.”)

On Thursday night, October 8, Duterte warned House members that he would step in if they cannot ensure the passage of the proposed 2021 national budget on time.

Earlier this week, Cayetano railroaded the 2nd reading approval of the proposed 2021 budget while his allies moved to suspend session until November 16. It was seen as a move to keep himself as Speaker past October 14, when Velasco, under the supposed term-sharing deal, was to take over.

Senators opposed the move, saying this would delay the passage of the 2021 budget and may lead to a reenacted budget.

Velasco said in the ANC interview that a resolution on the resumption of session is now going around House members. He said that this is “the only way we pass the budget on time is if we resume the session.” – Rappler.com