Duterte threatens to fix national budget himself amid speakership row

President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the Congress to fix the passage of the P4.506-trillion 2021 national budget, or he will do it for them as the House speakership row between Speaker Alan Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco continues.

Duterte, in an address Thursday night, also asked Cayetano and Velasco to stop fighting and work together for the timely passage of the national budget for next year.

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“If you do not solve the problem, then I will solve the problem for you. Mamili kayo (You choose), either we have the positive development where the people will be satisfied, our masters,” he said.

“Either you resolve the issue in your impasse and pass the budget legally or constitutionally. Pag hindi ninyo ginawa, ako ang gagawa para sa inyo (If you don’t do it, I will do it for you),” he said.

“Hindi ako nananakot, wala akong ambisyon manakot (I’m not threatening, I have no ambition to threaten)” the President said. “Wala akong ambisyon tatagal sa puwesto na **** puro problema (I have no ambition to stay long in a position that’s full of problems).”

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Also read: Budget blame game: Cayetano apologizes to Sotto

Duterte threatens to fix national budget himself amid speakership row

“I would like to remind everyone this is not a GMA (former president Gloria Arroyo) budget, this is not a PNoy (former president Benigno Aquino III) budget, this is a Rody Duterte budget,” the President said. “I’m no lame duck president,” he declared.

The President pointed out that no one should hold the 2021 national budget a hostage as the country is in the middle of its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

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“We always forget that there is higher, maneuvering in Congress because everybody wants to be Speaker,” Duterte said.

The President also said rivals Cayetano and Velasco should not drag his name in their problem because it would eventually reflect that he has bad leadership.

“My appeal is – thresh out the problem and think of the Filipinos, who are confined or need medicines or the Filipinos who might die at this hour,” Duterte said in a mix of Filipino and English.

“Huwag niyo naman sobrahan ang laro sa Congress, na ang budget mismo ang ilagay sa alanganin (Stop playing your games in Congress, it’s the budget that’s being imperiled),” he added.