By BEN ROSARIO
Days before Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco launched a successful coup that led to the ouster of Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano as speaker, Cayetano allegedly plotted to unseat 1Pacman partylist Rep. Mikee Romero as president of the 56-man Partylist Coalition Foundation Inc.
Romero, whom Cayetano relieved as deputy speaker two weeks ago, was able to thwart the reported bid to unseat him as head of the PCFI, currently the second biggest bloc of solons in the House.
It has been the belief of the Cayetano camp that Romero’s downfall is vital in the former speaker’s bid to stay in power because the billionaire-lawmaker has been identified one of Velasco’s most potent weapon in realizing the 15-21 term sharing agreement for the speakership.
“The plan was to incapacitate Velasco’s speakership bid and demoralize his team. Mikee wields a strong influence not only among partylist lawmakers, but district congressmen, as well,” a source from the Cayetano camp admitted.
Ako Bicol partylist Rep. Zaldy Co, known as another congressman-billionaire, was chosen by the Cayetano camp to take over the PCFI, but Co politely rejected the offer which was made during a Zoom conference that Anakalusugan partylist Rep. Michael Defensor reportedly organized last week.
Romero admitted he was aware of the plot to unseat him.
Bagong Henerasyon partylist Rep. Bernadette Herrera said Romero’s PCFI post was never threatened despite Cayetano’s backing.
“I believe Mikee and other officers of our group are doing good. We have a strong bond of friendship, we respect each other’s political believes, and support each others various advocacies,” said Herrera.
Romero has been the object of Cayetano’s ire ever since he accompanied Velasco to the first Malacanang meeting called by President Duterte to settle the leadership controversy in the House.
In fact, Cayetano had him stripped of his post as deputy speaker one day after the Palace meeting where Duterte asked the speaker to honor the 15-21 term sharing pact with Velasco.
The foiled coup against Romero was launched two days after Cayetano ordered him sacked as deputy speaker.
Romero was expected Wednesday to win back his seat as deputy speaker.
Defensor, a Cayetano loyalist, reportedly organized a Zoom conference among PCFI members supposedly to consult with the partylist congressmen their concerns about the budget.
At least 36 partylist solons attended the virtual meeting but there was little commitment from them to bring down Romero.
The big letdown happened when after being offered the PCFI leadership, Co politely turned it down, saying that all he wanted was to ensure that all partyilist solons are getting their equitable share of budgetary allocation for infrastructure projects and “are treated fairly” by the House leadership.
