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A tale of 2 Maces: Unofficial mace used in Velasco gathering - House official

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Tale of 2 Maces: one in Celebrity Sports Plaza now and one in Batasan Pambansa. The Mace is the symbol of the authority of the House. It should be present during sessions <a href="https://t.co/658WX6IWpu">pic.twitter.com/658WX6IWpu</a></p>— RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News (@R_G_Cruz888) <a href="https://twitter.com/R_G_Cruz888/status/1315463863689601024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2020</a></blockquote><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script><p>MANILA - The House of Representatives mace being used in a meeting of lawmakers backing the Speakership bid of Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco is not the official one, a House official said Monday. </p><p>House Sergeant at Arms Ramon Apolinario said the official mace of the chamber was in his custody. &quot;That is not the official mace,&quot; he said of the mace at the plaza.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/07/23/18/gone-mace-why-house-mace-is-important">Gone mace: Why House mace is important</a></li></ul><p>A version of the House mace, the symbol of the authority of the chamber which should be present during sessions, was seen at the Celebrity Sports Plaza where pro-Velasco lawmakers are gathering. </p><p>According to the official website of the House of Representatives, the Mace of the House is a &quot;symbol of authority, which is displayed at the foot of the Speaker&#x27;s Rostrum whenever the House is in session.&quot;</p><p>It also serves as the &quot;warrant for the Sergeant-at-Arms in enforcing order in the House upon instruction of the Speaker.&quot;</p><p>Deputy Speaker Neptali Gonzales II said sessions of the House of Representatives are suspended until November 16, &quot;and there is no authority from Plenary to reconvene today.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Unlike in the Batangas Session, there is no plenary Resolution authorizing to hold session in any other place other than in the Plenary in Batasan, contrary to the Constitution.&quot;</p><p>&quot;All the maces, old and official, are currently in the possession and safekeeping of the Sgt-at-Arms. These prove that what they are doing is clearly a rump and illegal session where the Rules of the House will not apply and can not be used,&quot; he said in a statement. </p><div><strong>FIGHT FOR SPEAKERSHIP</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jDe3GmP7lDg?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>At least 187 lawmakers have reportedly backed a manifesto declaring the Speakership vacant, a day before a special session would be convened for the passage of the 2021 budget. Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said 167 lawmakers have signed the manifesto.</p><p>Of the 187, some 50 lawmakers are members of dominant political party PDP-Laban which earlier expressed its support to honor the term-sharing deal between Cayetano and Velasco, according to Valenzuela Rep. Eric Martinez.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/12/20/velasco-allies-move-to-oust-cayetano-as-speaker-manifesto">Velasco allies move to oust Cayetano as Speaker: manifesto</a></li></ul><p>&quot;In a democracy, it’s always the game of numbers that dictates. We got the majority, time is up, it’s time to go,&quot; he told ABS-CBN&#x27;s Teleradyo as he was arriving at the venue.</p><p>&quot;Everyone is converging here, sabi nga (they say) &#x27;All roads lead to Celebrity Sports Plaza&#x27; ngayong umagang ito (this morning).</p><p>Members of President Rodrigo Duterte&#x27;s political party did not participate in the House vote that rejected Cayetano&#x27;s resignation offer, Martinez said.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/30/20/cayetano-offers-to-resign-as-speaker-house-immediately-rejects-move">Cayetano offers to resign as Speaker, House immediately rejects move</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/05/20/lawmaker-says-he-was-muted-during-house-vote-on-cayetano-resignation">Lawmaker says he was muted during House vote on Cayetano resignation</a></li></ul><p>&quot;We did not participate at that kind of proceedings because for us it’s the 15-21 (term-sharing agreement), and for us...Oct 14 ang timeline namin (is our timeline) so they breached the agreement again,&quot; he said.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Contributed photos: Inside the Venue of the Meeting of Congressmen at the Celebrity Sports Plaza. <a href="https://t.co/BTdZ8BuaRQ">pic.twitter.com/BTdZ8BuaRQ</a></p>— RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News (@R_G_Cruz888) <a href="https://twitter.com/R_G_Cruz888/status/1315492857327706112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2020</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>&quot;I think one of the turning points really is honor that 15-21 term sharing agreement. Nung sinimulan &#x27;yan (When it began) everyone agreed to that a year ago.&quot;</p>

<p>Time is up for House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, a lawmaker said Monday, as some 187 congressmen are set to arrive at the Celebrity Sports Plaza in Quezon City to replace with Cayetano with Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco.</p>

Time is up for House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, a lawmaker said Monday, as some 187 congressmen are set to arrive at the Celebrity Sports Plaza in Quezon City to replace with Cayetano with Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco.