The House of Representatives on Wednesday rejected the resignation of Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano as House Speaker with a vote of 184-1 and 9 abstentions.

Cayetano announced his offer to step down in a privilege speech before his fellow lawmakers amid plenary deliberations on the proposed P4.506-trillion 2021 national budget.

“I am offering my resignation here and now to you, my dear colleagues. My fate and the fate of the 2021 budget and leadership of the House is in your hands,” Cayetano said before the plenary.

The speech came a day after President Duterte told Cayetano to honor his term-sharing agreement with Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco and allow Velasco to take over. 

Immediately after the speech, Anakalusugan Party-list Rep. Mike Defensor, a staunch Cayetano ally, moved to reject the resignation. This was seconded by Rep.  Jose Antonio Sy Alvarado, another Cayetano ally. 

Deputy Speaker Raneo Abu initially moved for viva voce voting or a vote of ayes and nayes but later ruled for nominal or individual voting.

Duterte met with Cayetano and Velasco on Tuesday night to settle the issue over the leadership of the lower chamber of Congress.

Cayetano and Velasco entered into a term-sharing agreement which Duterte brokered last year, under which Cayetano would serve as speaker for the first 15 months of the 18th Congress or until October, while Velasco would be at the helm of the House for the remaining 21 months of the session. 

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Gian Angnged