Spartan Solution on Speakership Row

THE controversial term sharing for House Speakership between Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco has raised many eye brows among political pundits and analysts as being inconsistent with the Constitution and democratic processes. Having been brokered by no less than President Rodrigo Duterte, analysts say that it violates the separation of powers between the Legislative and Executive Departments of government. While the President has consistently said that he avoided any involvement in the choice of House Speakership, his latest statement and the finality of its tone sounded much like an appointment, and such an act is a violation of our Constitution. The Philippine Constitution provides that “the Senate shall elect its President and the House of Representative its Speaker, by a majority vote of all its respective members (Art. 6, Section 16). While some minority members of the House of Representatives maintain that the presidential intervention in the selection of the Speakership is legally impeachable, yet they are also well aware that the same will not hold water what with the majority members of Congress being aligned with the president’s political party. With this development, it would seem that when the 18th Congress opens this July, Rep. Allan Peter Cayetano will sit as Speaker for fifteen (15) months while Rep. Lord Allan Velasco will sit for twenty-one (21) months. Once Rep. Cayetano assumes the Speakerships post, he will have to face the bigger problem of the appointments of committee chairmanships in the House, especially the most coveted House Appropriations Committee and the House Rules Committee. Be that as it may, let’s hope that the 18th Congress of the Philippines opens this July not with a whimper but with a bang!

TRIVIA:

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), Camarines Sur Chapter will have the Inauguration of the 24th Board of Officers (2019-2021) and the Induction of New Members this coming Friday, July 12, at 6:00pm at La Piazza Hall, Avenue Hotel. The Guest of Honor on the occasion is Atty. Burt Miquiabas Estrada, Governor of IBP Eastern Mindanao and EVP, IBP National. Congratulations to the new Board of Officers and new members of the Camarines Sur IBP.

Hi to my good friend Marianito Abella whom I have not seen for quite some time. A fellow Jaycee, Marianito is a constant reader of this column.

Hi also to our family friends and compadre Totoy and comadre Cora Reorizo who recently returned from their sojourn in USA.

The USI high school batch ‘55 is due to meet this coming Friday, July 12, for a luncheon-fellowship at the Avenue Plaza on the occasion of the Nth birth anniversary of their batchmate Belen Agregado Zaragosa.

Congratulations to the birthday celebrant!

QUOTATION OF THE WEEK :

“EDUCATION IS A WEAPON WHOSE EFFECT DEPENDS ON WHO HOLDS IT IN HIS HANDS AND AT WHOM IT IS AIMED.” JOSEPH STALIN

FOR OUR WORD OF LIFE:

“GOOD IS THE LORD TO ONE WHO WAITS FOR HIM, TO THE SOUL WHO SEEKS HIM.”

LAMENTATIONS 3:25