The 54-strong party-list coalition did not mince words after their president and 1-Pacman Representative Michael “Mikee” Romero was stripped of his influential House deputy speakership. 

The Party-list Coalition Foundation Inc (PCFI) said in a statement late Sunday night, October 4, that improper procedures were followed and their bloc was “marginalized as mere spectators” when Romero was removed from his post last week.

It was seen as Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano’s open declaration of war against his rival Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco, who is allied with Romero and the PCFI.

Cayetano and Velasco are now locking horns over whether their term-sharing deal for the speakership would push through.

Cayetano’s allies already told the Velasco bloc to step down from their key House posts if they can no longer cooperate with the sitting Speaker. 

“Abot-langit ang pagkadismaya namin sa hindi makatwirang pagkakatanggal sa aming kasamahang si Rep. Michael Romero bilang deputy speaker. Paano siya napatalsik gayong wala namang botohang naganap? Anong klaseng procedure ‘yun?” said the party-list lawmakers. 

(We are deeply disappointed with the unreasonable removal of our colleague Rep. Michael Romero as deputy speaker. How can he be kicked out if no election happened? What kind of procedure was that?)

They argued Romero should not have been replaced in the House leadership by Cayetano ally and Capiz 2nd District Representative Fredenil Castro, as the PCFI is entitled to one deputy speaker post since it comprises 20% of the total membership of the chamber.

This allotment had been among the demands of the party-list bloc before they agreed to vote Cayetano as Speaker in 2019. 

“The delicate balance, carefully negotiated at the start of the 18th Congress, now teeters on the precipice of instability because that deputy speakership was transferred to a district representative and there are now threats involving committee leadership posts,” the PCFI said. 

Romero’s removal took less than a minute during the hybrid plenary session on Friday, October 2, catching Velasco’s allies by surprise. 

Most of them were not physically present in the plenary hall, as strict physical distancing were in place in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

A majority of House members participated in the proceedings via teleconferencing app Zoom, where lawmakers can be muted anytime and against their will.

Now, PCFI is demanding they be allowed to go to the plenary hall in the succeeding days so they could swiftly take action “given the flurry of tactical maneuvers happening at plenary, far from the limits placed on us who participate only remotely and virtually.”

‘Repressively draconian stunts’ vs Velasco allies

The ruling PDP-Laban, whose House bloc Velasco leads, described Romero’s removal as part of Cayetano’s “repressively draconian stunts.”

“These repressively draconian stunts being shown by the House leadership like the unceremonious stripping off from key positions of perceived non-allied leaders do not in anyway sow harmony among House members,” PDP-Laban stalwart and Oriental Mindoro 1st District Representative Salvador “Doy” Leachon told Rappler. 

He argued the issue could stoke “the unnoticed, growing resentment” among lawmakers regarding the inequitable distribution of funds under the proposed P4.5-trillion budget in 2021. 

“The members are now realizing the real state of Congress and its members. Issues of inequity of treatment and senselessly vindictive attitude towards those who don’t align with their manner of management. That they want change. Those are the principal reasons why many are starting to jump ship,” he added. 

Leachon said the Velasco bloc is now at around 160, including members of PDP-Laban, PCFI, and the Nationalist People’s Coalition. 

Tension is now gripping the House following the power showdown between Cayetano and Velasco.

In a deal brokered by President Rodrigo Duterte himself, the two congressmen are supposed to share terms as Speaker. Cayetano is to serve for the first 15 months of the 18th Congress, then Velasco is to take over in the 21 months after that. 

But it was unclear as to when exactly Velasco’s term begins, even after both parties met with the President to settle the term-sharing question in the chamber. 

Faced with another impasse, Cayetano offered to step down as Speaker on Wednesday, September 30, only for his colleagues to refuse his resignation. (READ: In House power play, Speaker Cayetano’s Palace dreams are at stake)

Velasco then accused the Speaker of resorting to “political maneuvering and theatrics” to cling to power and challenged his rival to step down by October 14.

Questionable proceedings

Another Velasco ally complained the session where Cayetano offered to resign was allegedly rigged, in an ANC Headstart interview on Monday, October 5.

Negros Oriental 3rd District Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr said he was trying to raise a point of order when Cayetano’s offer to resign was being voted upon. But he was muted on Zoom the whole time.

The House rules state that a point of order “takes precedence over any motion other than a motion to adjourn,” which means it has to always be recognized. 

“I had the proceedings recorded while I was in Zoom inside the car. Those proceedings should have been null and void,” Teves said in a mix of English and Filipino.

He was the first lawmaker to complain of the uneven distribution of funds under the 2021 budget.

But pressed by journalist Karen Davila on Monday what steps Teves would take to act on his complaint, the congressman could not give a straight answer. 

“Actually I don’t know what’s the proper thing to do here. But the public and those who are aware of parliamentary procedures know that a point of order is a priority motion that should be prioritized,” said Teves.

He then said he is still “trying to look for the proper avenues” to complain on the matter. – Rappler.com