MANILA — The months-long power struggle at the House of Representatives peaked lunchtime Monday, after over 180 lawmakers "voted" to vacate the position of Speaker that cleared the way for Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, and "ousted" Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano.

• Duterte to House: Fix budget impasse, don't 'play' with pandemic funds

HOW IT HAPPENED

• News about Cayetano being ousted circulated Monday morning, after Albay Rep. Joey Salceda told ANC that at least 167 lawmakers have signed a manifesto for Velasco.
• Photos of a gathering at the Celebrity Sports Plaza in Quezon City with their version of the House mace, the symbol of the authority of the chamber which should be present during sessions, were released to the media.

• House Sergeant at Arms Ramon Apolinario then claimed the official mace of the chamber was in his custody.
• Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio releases a statement saying her regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago wants the term-sharing agreement between Velasco and Cayetano enforced.

• ‘Sara Duterte endorsement of Velasco could spell the end of Cayetano as Speaker’

• Velasco shows up at the Celebrity Sports Plaza.
• Cayetano holds a press briefing at the Batasan Pambansa.
• "Session" begins at the Celebrity Sports Plaza.
• Some 186 lawmakers in Celebrity Sports Plaza declare the House Speaker post vacant, saying it was more than the 151 required.

• Cayetano refuses to recognize session at the Plaza. "I will not allow you to burn this House down… marami na akong Goliath na kinalaban. You’re in for one hell of a fight."

• The lawmakers at the Plaza elect new House officials with Mao Aplasca as the Sergeant-at-arms and Jocelia Bighani Sibin as Secretary-General.
• The lawmakers nominate and elect Velasco as new House Speaker.
• Velasco takes oath and in a speech thanks 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.
• Cayetano ally Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte calls the vote at the Celebrity Sports Plaza "ridiculous."

• READ: 'Katawa-tawa, fake': Cayatano, ally reject Velasco's election as Speaker

• Villafuerte likewise branded his colleagues' move as "illegal," citing the location of the session and the absence of an "official" House mace.

"Everything is fake, everything is illegal, everything is unconstitutional. Challenge ko sa kanila: Gawin niyo 'yan sa plenaryo kung may numero kayo. Kung may numero kayo we will accept, kung wala let's all work together to approve the budget. Iyan ang panawagan," he said.

• Velasco later disputed this and said there was precedence for House sessions being held outside of Batasan Pambansa.

"Noong nagkaroon tayo ng pagsabog ng Taal Volcano, the whole House went to... Batangas to hold a House session. [I]t’s the same. Under the rules, it is allowed. This wasn’t a sham session," Velasco said.

WHAT'S NEXT

The budget hearing will resume Tuesday, Oct. 13, following President Rodrigo Duterte's instruction to the House of Representatives to conduct a special session.

• Duterte certifies 2021 budget as urgent as House speakership feud rages

Duterte had to intervene to make sure that the country will not operate on a reenacted budget next year, after Cayetano and his allies last week terminated the sessions due to "politics and saboteurs."

• 'Politics, saboteurs': Cayetano explains what forced him to suspend budget debates, House session
• 'The nerve!' Sotto blasts Cayetano for passing blame over 2021 budget row

Cayetano refusing to legitimize the session on Monday that effectively ousted him as House Speaker, all eyes will be on Congress on Tuesday to witness who will preside the special session for the country's pandemic war chest.

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