By Fernan Angeles
MARINDUQUE Rep. Lord Allan Velasco got what he wished for on his 43rd birthday – to become the Speaker of the 300-member House of Representatives, officially at that.
In Malacañang, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco took his oath of office before President Rodrigo Duterte, con on Monday, the day he also celebrated his 43rd birthday.
The oath-taking was held during a private ceremony at the Rizal Hall in Malacañang Palace, attended by Velasco’s wife Rowena, his father Marinduque Gov. Presbitero Velasco Jr., and his mother Torrijos Mayor Lorna Velasco.
“I am deeply honored to be sworn in by President Duterte who I admire a lot and have high regard for. He is also one of the persons to whom I am greatly indebted,” Velasco said in a statement after his oath-taking.
A total of 186 lawmakers elected Velasco as Speaker on October 12 in a remote session held at Celebrity Sports Plaza in Quezon City. He took his oath before Allan Franza, barangay captain of Matandang Balara.
The next day, his election was ratified by 186 lawmakers in a session conducted at the Plenary Hall of the Batasang Pambansa Complex.
Taguig-Pateros Representative Alan Peter Cayetano eventually stepped down from the speakership post following the ratification of Velasco’s election.
The two lawmakers earlier agreed to a term-sharing deal, where Cayetano would hold the speakership for 15 months to be followed by Velasco for the remaining 21 months.
Velasco thanked Duterte anew for ensuring that the term-sharing agreement would be fulfilled.
He vowed to pay it forward by carrying out the President’s legislative agenda in Congress.
“I assure the President that he can rely on Congress to help him fulfill his promises to our people before his term ends in 2022,” he said.
Likewise, Velasco said he would exert all efforts to ensure a “stronger, inclusive and united House” under this leadership.
“We will work together in Congress to pass laws that are timely and responsive to the needs of our countrymen and to make the lower chamber truly the House representing the people,” he said.