WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
The fight over the speakership heats up between Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and his rival Lord Allan Velasco, stalling the budget process and prompting President Rodrigo Duterte himself to intervene.
Rappler is on top of this developing story to help you make sense of events. Bookmark and refresh this page for blow-by-blow updates, context, and analyses on the House speakership fight between Cayetano and Velasco.
LATEST UPDATES
JUST IN: 186 lawmakers vote to ratify the election of Velasco as new House Speaker
IT'S OFFICIAL: Lawmakers oust Alan Peter Cayetano as Speaker of the House of Representatives, electing his rival Lord Allan Velasco. (Photo courtesy of Rep. Mike Aglipay)
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) October 13, 2020
READ: https://t.co/RCqylDySBS pic.twitter.com/7Hca0b2UXT
JUST IN: A total of 186 lawmakers vote to ratify the election of Velasco as new Speaker of the House. | via @maracepeda
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) October 13, 2020
LIVE UPDATES: https://t.co/Vw3n7Zv7fY pic.twitter.com/JFzmKvzPnw
Villafuerte tells DZMM: ‘Kung mayroon talaga silang numero, sana nilabas na nila’
Villafuerte disagrees with Velasco and his allies entering the Batsang Pambansa Plenary Hall moments ago to hold session. He says session was scheduled to resume at 3 pm, and the Velasco camp should have waited until then. @rapplerdotcom
— JC Gotinga (@JCGotinga) October 13, 2020
Villafuerte says the Batasan plenary hall was padlocked because no session was scheduled this morning. It was set for later at 3 pm. @rapplerdotcom
— JC Gotinga (@JCGotinga) October 13, 2020
Velasco presides over session inside the plenary hall
Deputy Majority Leader Rimpy Bondoc moves that nominal voting be conduct to ratify the election of Velasco as Speaker.
— Mara Cepeda (@maracepeda) October 13, 2020
Velasco now seated on the Speaker’s rostrum
LOOK: Velasco is now seated on the Speaker's rostrum ahead of today's session he is expected to preside. Photos courtesy of Rep Mike Aglipay pic.twitter.com/tUCRwa5DQ3
— Mara Cepeda (@maracepeda) October 13, 2020
Lawmakers to formalize Velasco election in Batasan, says Leachon
JUST IN: Lawmakers now at Batasan to conduct session to formalize the election of Marinduque Rep Lord Allan Velasco as Speaker, says Oriental Mindoro Rep Doy Leachon. pic.twitter.com/PcIV0tT3aC
— Mara Cepeda (@maracepeda) October 13, 2020
Velasco enters plenary hall for the first time after he was elected Speaker yesterday. Media now waiting outside the doors. pic.twitter.com/zBr2CtMl6J
— Mara Cepeda (@maracepeda) October 13, 2020
Duterte meeting with Cayetano, Velasco set at 12:30 pm today
Below is a full statement issued by Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque:
This is to confirm that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has called Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano and Rep. Lord Allan Velasco for a meeting at 12:30 pm in Malago today regarding the passage of the 2021 budget.
Fight of e-signatures?
Both the Velasco and Cayetano camps are rampantly using e-signatures, some without direct permission from the legislators, in this fight over the speakership, says a source. Who do you think will prevail?
Majority of Lakas-CMD now backing Velasco – sources
A majority of the 36-strong Lakas-CMD party of House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez is now backing Velasco for Speaker, reliable House sources said. They include Romualdez himself, Pampanga D2 Rep Mikey Arroyo, and Negros Occidental D5 Rep Ma. Lourdes Arroyo.
— Mara Cepeda (@maracepeda) October 13, 2020