Yap told reporters after his election that he had no idea that he would take over the appropriations panel, saying that Cayetano only asked him today to lead it.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 2)— The House of Representatives on Monday removed two lawmakers from key posts amid rumors of an ouster plot against Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano.
Neophyte lawmaker ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Eric Yap is now the chair of the powerful Committee on Appropriations, which handles budget bills. He replaced four-term Davao City 3rd District Rep. Isidro Ungab, who was chairperson of both the Appropriations and Ways and Means Committees.
Ungab, who was previously endorsed for Speaker by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte’s regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago, said in a statement after his ouster that he has accepted his fate.
“Gaya ng ibang responsibilidad na iniatang sa atin, buong puso kong tinatanggap ang hamon na pagiging Chairman ng House Committee on Appropriations,” said Yap in a statement.
Meanwhile, Kabayan party-list Rep. Ron Salo is now the head of the House’s delegation to the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal, replacing Oriental Mindoro 1st District Rep. Doy Leachon, a stalwart of ruling party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan.
“If there is a need that we sign a manifest of support, PDP-Laban is willing to do that just to show our sincerity that we do not know anything about this,” said Deputy Speaker Johnny Pimentel, spokesperson of PDP-Laban.
No one objected to the movements.
The House Committee on Games and Amusements, previously headed by Yap, is now led by Abra Rep. Joseph Sto. Niño Bernos. Yap stays on as vice chair of the panel.
Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza, however, believes Cayetano and his allies are only floating the supposed ouster plot either to divert public attention from ABS-CBN’s bid to renew its franchise, which is due to expire on May 4, or ditch the term-sharing deal.
The changes in the two key House posts came amid reports that a leadership shakeup in the chamber will happen soon.
Cayetano alleged last week that Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco — with whom he has a standing term-sharing agreement — is plotting to oust him and had been promising committee chairmanships and unsolicited budget allocations to colleagues in the House.
“Gumagawa ng drama ito (They’ll make a scene for now) then he (Cayetano) will be the one to move for a declaration of [all] positions vacant. Why? Because he wants an election now and not to honor the agreement that he entered into,” Atienza told reporters.
Velasco and his party, however, have belied the supposed coup.
CNN Philippines Correspondent Xianne Arcangel contributed to this report.
[Translation: Just like the other responsibilities that were given to me, I accept the challenge of being the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations wholeheartedly.]
He added that aside from matters of general appropriations, projects like social service delivery programs that need funding, will also go through his committee.
Meanwhile, Ungab, who was previously endorsed for Speaker by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte’s regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago, said in a statement after his ouster that he has accepted his fate.
Leachon aired his side of the story, saying in a statement that the alleged House coup on speakership is a “self-created scenario.”
