ILOILO City – “I was politicized.” AAMBIS-OWA Party-list’s Rep. Sharon Garin lamented how other lawmakers were dragged into the House of Representatives’ speakership fight between Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque’s Rep. Lord Allan Velasco.
Garin made the remark after she and two other lawmakers were stripped of their committee chairmanships amid the wrangling over the speakership post.
“Nadala ako sa crossfire,” Garin, an ally of Velasco and former chair of the economic affairs committee, said in an interview over DYFM Bombo Radyo.
The Ilongga lawmaker was replaced by Aklan’s Rep. Teodorico Haresco Jr.
Also stripped of their chairmanships were Quezon’s Rep. Helen Tan (Committee on Health) and Valenzuela’s Rep. Eric Martinez (Committee on Youth and Sports Development). They were replaced by Guimaras’ Rep. Ma. Lucielle Nava and Manila’s Rep. John Marvin Nietox, respectively.
According to Garin, Cayetano is alienating the party-list bloc in the House with her removal as well as the ouster of 1-PACMAN Party-list’s Rep. Michael Romero as deputy speaker.
Romero is the president of the party-list bloc in the lower chamber.
“This is party allocation. Para may posisyon ang tanan nga political party. It is okay if he does not like me. But let us respect the party. Tani ang ginbulos ya, party-list man. Kay allocation na sang party-list eh. Ano man? Daw gina-etsapwera na lang bala ang party-list,” Garin lamented.
She clarified that she did not have ill-feeling towards Cayetano. But she noted that none of the statements of no less than President Rodrigo Duterte were realized because of Cayetano’s maneuvering the lower house.
“Tatlo ang ginhambal sang Presidente. Una, do not let this tussle affect my administration. Ikaduha, pass the budget. Ikatatlo, let us honor the term-sharing agreement,” Garin said.
She also emphasized the squabble for speakerships did not only affect Congress but also the entire country and the Filipino people due to the delayed passage of the 2021 national budget.
“I am really disappointed. What is really bad is we brought their problem to the doorstep of every Filipino. Pati constituents namon nadalahig. I am apologetic gid sa public,” said Garin.
Way back in 2019 when it was agreed that Cayetano and Velasco will have a “15-21” term sharing.
Under the agreement brokered by President Duterte himself in 2019, Cayetano would serve as Speaker in the first 15 months of the 18th Congress and Velasco would succeed him and serve as Speaker in the remaining 21 months.
Recently, Cayetano said he is willing to relinquish his House speakership to Velasco if the latter can amass the needed votes from their colleagues.
As of Thursday, at least 161 congressmen have signified their support for Velasco./PN
