Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco took his oath after being ‘elected’ as the new Speaker of the House of Representatives during a gathering with allied lawmakers at the Celebrity Sports Plaza in Quezon City on Monday.
A total of 186 lawmakers declared the position for House Speaker vacant, ousting incumbent House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano.
“I accept this one in a lifetime challenge to serve as Speaker of the House of Representatives of the 18th Congress. I will not let you down, you have my word. Maraming salamat po,” he said.
Velasco extended his thanks to President Rodrigo Duterte and his children Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte, along with the President’s long-time aide Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go.
“Ako’y nagpapasalamat sa ating mahal na Pangulo, a man of his word, may isang salita. (Para) sa mabuting halimbawa and for inspiring young government servants like me na hindi hadlang ang pagiging probinsiyano para tayo ay makapagserbisyo,” Velasco said.
[I thank our dear President, who is a man of his word, who has a single word. For serving as a good example and for inspiring young government servants like me that being from the province will not hinder us to serve.]
“Na ang iyong probinsyano congressman (That a congressman) from a small province like Marinduque can be elected Speaker of the House of Representatives.”
