LP solons want Quimbo as House minority leader
Published Jul 25, 2018 04:51 pm
By Charissa Luci-Atienza
The 12 Liberal Party (LP) lawmakers, who abstained from voting for Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, have installed Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo as their Minority Leader.
Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo (via Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN)
In a press conference, Quezon City Rep. Jose Christopher Belmonte, LP secretary general, announced that they “agreed that our Minority Leader is the Honourable Miro Quimbo”. The decision was arrived at during the group's first organizational meeting today.
Quimbo said they have sent a letter to Speaker Arroyo informing her that the minority has been constituted and organized, and that Minority Leader has been elected. The letter was received by the Office of the Speaker this afternoon.
“The Minority is ready to work with the Majority,” he told reporters.
The Marikina lawmaker said he was also resigning as Deputy Speaker. “The fact I voted to abstain, sinusuko ko ang deputy speakership,” Quimbo said.
He also clarified that their effort to form the “genuine” minority had no clearance from Vice President Leni Robredo, LP chair.
“Hindi namin kinausap si Vice President about this, wala kaming prior na usapan na tipong we sought her clearance. It is natural gravitation flow na gusto namin na magkaisa,” Quimbo said.
Joining Belmonte and Quimbo during the press conference were Reps. Francis Gerald Abaya, Kaka Bag-ao, Josephine Ramirez-Sato, Teddy Baguilat, Bolet Banal, Gabby Bordado, Edgar Erice, and Jocelyn Limkaichong. Reps. Raul Daza, and Toff de Venecia were not present.
Quimbo said Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez cannot be considered as the leader of the House opposition.
“There is no single basis under the law or jurisprudence.Former Minority Leader Danilo Suarez cannot be a minority leader. The rules are very specific those who vote for the winning speaker shall constitute the majority, di lang sya bumoto, una pa syang pumirma at nangampanya pa sya,” he said.
Rule II, Section 8 of the Rules of the House of Representatives and a Supreme Court decision promulgated July 25, 2017, states that “xxx (a) all those who vote for the winning Speaker shall belong to the Majority and those who vote for other candidates shall belong to the Minority; (b) those who abstain from voting shall likewise be considered part of the Minority; and (c) the Minority Leader shall be elected by members of the Minority.”
“Kung may pagmamahal sila kay Speaker Arroyo, kelangan nila pabayaan na ang rules ang manaig,” Quimbo pointed out.
In a statement, the LP lawmakers said, "If we want Congress to produce policies that are worthy of the promise of democracy to the people, we must not allow this to happen again because if it does, we go back to the very reason why the change in the House speakership occurred—ineffective leadership that refuses to recognize differing opinions and persuasions.”
"And with this kind of leader, we need a minority that fiscalizes; one that is reasonable and has the ability to represent alternative points of view that provide us with more effective legislation. After all, this is our sworn duty to our citizens. We need a minority that is not an extension of the majority, unlike in the immediate past,” they added.
Lagman said they expect that after the press conference, their group’s membership “will balloon.” He also noted that they have “competent and credible allies.”
He said MAGDALO partylist Rep. Gary Alejano and Akbayan partylist Rep. Tom Villarin will definitely be part of their bloc.
Lagman also expressed hope that the seven-man Makabayan bloc will join them. “I hope they will be part of us.”
Quimbo declined to identify those who have expressed their intent to join the minority. “If we reveal them, we are laying our cards open,” he said.
Belmonte said they respected the decision of former Speaker and Quezon City Rep. Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and other LP lawmakers who voted for Arroyo.
Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo (via Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN)
In a press conference, Quezon City Rep. Jose Christopher Belmonte, LP secretary general, announced that they “agreed that our Minority Leader is the Honourable Miro Quimbo”. The decision was arrived at during the group's first organizational meeting today.
Quimbo said they have sent a letter to Speaker Arroyo informing her that the minority has been constituted and organized, and that Minority Leader has been elected. The letter was received by the Office of the Speaker this afternoon.
“The Minority is ready to work with the Majority,” he told reporters.
The Marikina lawmaker said he was also resigning as Deputy Speaker. “The fact I voted to abstain, sinusuko ko ang deputy speakership,” Quimbo said.
He also clarified that their effort to form the “genuine” minority had no clearance from Vice President Leni Robredo, LP chair.
“Hindi namin kinausap si Vice President about this, wala kaming prior na usapan na tipong we sought her clearance. It is natural gravitation flow na gusto namin na magkaisa,” Quimbo said.
Joining Belmonte and Quimbo during the press conference were Reps. Francis Gerald Abaya, Kaka Bag-ao, Josephine Ramirez-Sato, Teddy Baguilat, Bolet Banal, Gabby Bordado, Edgar Erice, and Jocelyn Limkaichong. Reps. Raul Daza, and Toff de Venecia were not present.
Quimbo said Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez cannot be considered as the leader of the House opposition.
“There is no single basis under the law or jurisprudence.Former Minority Leader Danilo Suarez cannot be a minority leader. The rules are very specific those who vote for the winning speaker shall constitute the majority, di lang sya bumoto, una pa syang pumirma at nangampanya pa sya,” he said.
Rule II, Section 8 of the Rules of the House of Representatives and a Supreme Court decision promulgated July 25, 2017, states that “xxx (a) all those who vote for the winning Speaker shall belong to the Majority and those who vote for other candidates shall belong to the Minority; (b) those who abstain from voting shall likewise be considered part of the Minority; and (c) the Minority Leader shall be elected by members of the Minority.”
“Kung may pagmamahal sila kay Speaker Arroyo, kelangan nila pabayaan na ang rules ang manaig,” Quimbo pointed out.
In a statement, the LP lawmakers said, "If we want Congress to produce policies that are worthy of the promise of democracy to the people, we must not allow this to happen again because if it does, we go back to the very reason why the change in the House speakership occurred—ineffective leadership that refuses to recognize differing opinions and persuasions.”
"And with this kind of leader, we need a minority that fiscalizes; one that is reasonable and has the ability to represent alternative points of view that provide us with more effective legislation. After all, this is our sworn duty to our citizens. We need a minority that is not an extension of the majority, unlike in the immediate past,” they added.
Lagman said they expect that after the press conference, their group’s membership “will balloon.” He also noted that they have “competent and credible allies.”
He said MAGDALO partylist Rep. Gary Alejano and Akbayan partylist Rep. Tom Villarin will definitely be part of their bloc.
Lagman also expressed hope that the seven-man Makabayan bloc will join them. “I hope they will be part of us.”
Quimbo declined to identify those who have expressed their intent to join the minority. “If we reveal them, we are laying our cards open,” he said.
Belmonte said they respected the decision of former Speaker and Quezon City Rep. Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and other LP lawmakers who voted for Arroyo.