Velasco elected new House Speaker

Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives by 186 lawmakers during a gathering at the Celebrity Sports Plaza in Quezon City on Monday, which was later ratified at the Batasang Pambansa on Tuesday.

Taguig-Pateros Representative Alan Peter Cayetano resigned as Speaker following the vote.

Velasco and Cayetano were parties to a term-sharing agreement brokered by President Rodrigo Duterte, where Cayetano was supposed to hold the speakership for 15 months and Velasco would take over for the remaining 21 months.

In his acceptance speech, Velasco blamed the outgoing Speaker for the 'unnecessary turmoil' due to his refusal to honor the term-sharing deal.

Malacañang congratulated Velasco, with presidential spokesperson Harry Roque stating that the President respects the House's decision and looks forward to working with the new Speaker.

Velasco, 42, is a lawyer by profession and the son of retired Supreme Court associate justice Presbitero Velasco Jr. and Torrijos, Marinduque Mayor Lorna Velasco.

He studied business management at De La Salle University and obtained his law degree from the University of Santo Tomas.