Philippines elect new House Speaker, ends feud as Covid-19 cases goes below 2,000; lowest since Sept 23

Representative Lord Allan Velasco was elected House Speaker by a majority of lawmakers. - The Straits Times/Asian News Network

SINGAPORE, Oct 13 (The Straits Times/ANN): A simmering row in the Philippine Congress that threatened to stall the country's response to the Covid-19 pandemic ended on Tuesday, with lawmakers allied with the powerful daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte (pic, below) officially naming a new Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Representative Lord Allan Velasco was elected House Speaker by a majority of lawmakers who attended a plenary session just before noon, forcing his rival, Alan Cayetano, to tender his "irrevocable resignation" as support for him collapsed.