Hoping to end the controversy that has further divided the already fractured opposition group in the House of Representatives, 18 congressmen elected Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez as leader of the minority bloc.

However, the group of Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr. claimed that they are the “real, legitimate and authentic” House Minority as they lambasted the “brazen” election of Suarez as Minority Leader.

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, who belongs to the once-ruling Liberal Party (LP), insisted that there is no need for minority members to elect the Minority leader because there is a clear-cut winner for such position, declaring Suarez’s group as a “fake minority.”

The LP faction in the House is also considering the intervention of the Supreme Court in determining who must be considered the minority leader in the chamber.

Suarez’s election was expected to be manifested on the floor when session resumed yesterday afternoon.

Baguilat, vowed to register his objection as he believes that by garnering eight votes during the speakership race on Monday, he should be declared the minority leader.

During the Monday vote, Suarez, who followed tradition by voting for the eventual winner, Speaker Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez, received only seven votes.

At least 11 of 15 solons who abstained from the Monday vote, yesterday joined the minority caucus and decided to support Suarez as the next minority leader.

This time, Suarez voted for himself.  He was also the choice of the following solons: Representatives Lito Atienza (Buhay Party-list), Luis Campos (UNA,  Makati City), Monsour del Rosario (UNA, Makati City), Harry Roque (Kabayan Party-list), Delphine Lee (AGRI Party-list), Orestes Salon (AGRI-Party-list)  and Anna Villaraza Suarez (ALONA Party-list); Harlin Neil Abayon (UNA, Northern Samar), Arlene Arcillas (LP, Laguna), Joseph Bernos (UNA, Abra), Oscar Garbin (Ako Bicol Party-list), Abigail Ferriol-Pascual (Kalinga Party-list), Eugene de Vera (ABS Party-list), Julieta Cortuna (A-Teacher Party-list), Arnel Cerafica (Taguig City), Anthony Bravo (COOP-NATCO Party-list), Aniceto Bertiz (ACTS-OFW Party-list), and Amanda Bagatsing (PDP-Laban, Manila).

HOUSE RULES

Citing the rules of the Lower House, Baguilat said he should have been declared the minority leader as he garnered the next highest votes in the three-way speakership contest.

Roque slammed Baguilat and his LP colleagues for protesting a democratic vote taken on Suarez, saying that the once ruling party wanted “to have their cake and eat it, too.”

“Most of those in the majority now are the ones who jumped ship from LP. They want to enjoy the perks of being in the Majority, while at the same time they want to lord it over the Minority by having one of their members elected as minority Leader,” said Roque.

A total of 25 lawmakers showed up for the election of the House Minority Leader, 22 of whom voted in favor of Suarez and three lawmakers – AKO Bicol Party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe, AAMBIS-Owa Party-list Rep. Sharon Garin, and Isabela Rep. Lourdes Aggabao – abstained from voting.

‘CONSTRUCTIVE’ HOUSE

In his acceptance speech, Suarez vowed to lead a “constructive” House opposition bloc that would support the Duterte administration’s pro-people measures, but at the same time, ensure the checks and balances in the government.

“We are a constructive minority. We will support measures that will bring progress to the country,” he said, citing the crucial role of the House Minority bloc in ensuring transparency and accountability in the bureaucracy.

Suarez said they intend to reach out to Baguilat’s group to have a “solid” minority.

“I will surely approach them, maganda na sama sama,” he said.

HIGH COURT INTERVENTION

Baguilat said they will question on the floor any manifestation that will declare Suarez and his group as the minority bloc that should be recognized by Speaker Alvarez.

“We will object to this.  But we will also study the suggestion that the matter should be brought before the Supreme Court,” he disclosed.

Baguilat admitted that the High Court might not act on the petition as it had ruled in the past.

However, he said there have been precedents when the SC took cognizance of political controversies in the past.

Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice and Lagman said they are studying their options to elevate their concern to the Supreme Court (SC).

“It is our obligation on our part to question this before the Supreme Court, and our legal team is studying this option,” Erice said.

“We are still studying this, hindi puedeng pabigla-bigla na file,” Lagman said, recognizing that the SC does not deal with political questions.

Baguilat questioned the “moral ascendancy” of Suarez to lead the House opposition bloc, being the principal authors of measures being pushed by the Duterte administration, including the reimposition of the death penalty, and bill granting emergency powers to President Duterte to address traffic woes in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

“We are the real and genuine Minority. We have the real mandate and that is to be true conscience of this Congress,” he said.

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Ben R. Rosario and Charissa M. Luci

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