Roque said Duterte wanted to keep his hands off the “internal issue” at the House, as he respected how the lawmakers voted in Cayetano’s favor. That night, Cayetano visited Malacañang with wife Taguig Rep. Maria Laarni “Lani” Cayetano, sister Sen. Pilar Juliana “Pia” Cayetano and Deputy Speaker Eddie Villanueva to pray over Duterte. For Deputy Speaker Neptali Gonzales 2nd, another Cayetano ally, the “fresh mandate” on Wednesday concluded the speakership row and showed that the majority of lawmakers did not recognize the term-sharing deal. The House currently has 22 deputy speakers, the second highest-ranking officials in the lower chamber. A deputy speaker can preside and assume duties and powers of the speaker in cases where he is absent or temporarily incapacitated.

Source: Manila Times October 03, 2020 16:20 UTC