CAYETANO LOSING NUMBERS IN HOR —ATIENZA

House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano is losing his grip and influence over the 304-member legislative chamber for continuing to defy the term-sharing agreement brokered by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Buhay Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza said Cayetano has found himself in a difficult situation after launching a vicious loyalty check that led to the removal of 1PACMAN Rep. Mikee Romero as deputy speaker.

“Alan (Cayetano) has lost a lot of support (following Romero’s removal as deputy speaker),” Atienza said, noting that Romero wields influence over the party-list coalition, which has 54 members.

Atienza said he was also quite sure the President’s political party, PDP-Laban, “will be in support of Velasco.” There are a total of 65 House members belonging to PDP-Laban.

“I am sure hindi hihiway ang mga political chieftains kay Presidente,” Atienza said.

The National People’s Coalition, which has 35 members in the Lower House, is also backing Velasco as speaker.

“All he (Velasco) has to do is call the smaller groups,” Atienza said.

According to Atienza, majority of pro-administration lawmakers were dismayed by Cayetano’s continued refusal to honor the term-sharing agreement for the speakership, which many viewed as an open defiance of the President’s will.

“The President was clear in his statement that he wants the term-sharing honored by both camps. That was what the President said, so honor your word,” Atienza told Cayetano.

Aside from the Nacionalista Party where he belongs, Cayetano is supported by the 43-member National Unity Party (NUP), headed by Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga.

However, Atienza said the NUP “may end up in the minority.”

“May paglalagyan si Cayetano,” he added. #