QUEZON CITY,  Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Quezon City Bureau) – A total of 186 congressmen, or majority of 299 members of the House of Representatives, have elected Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco as the new Speaker in a session described by allies of Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano “illegal.”

It will be recalled that Cayetano and Velasco had earlier agreed to a term-sharing of the Speakership, brokered by no less that President Rodrigo Duterte.  Cayetano’s term would have ended this October but from indications, he was unwilling to vacate the powerful position.

The Speakership row had put in jeopardy deliberations and actions on the government’s 2021 national budget, very much needed during this time of the coronavirus pandemic. 

While Presidential coups are not uncommon in the Philippines, many are saying that this coup involving a sitting House Speaker is unprecedented, calling it a nincomcoup.