Anakalusugan partylist Rep. Mike Defensor on Thursday slammed Speaker Lord Allan Velasco’s moves in reorganizing  the House of Representatives, saying that the actions taken by the House leader “show arrogance and unprofessionalism.”

Defensor’s press statement that he released on the second day of his relief as chairman of the powerful House Committee on Public Accounts constituted the first alarm bell of another leadership controversy in the chamber.

A few hours after being sacked as chairman of the public accounts panel, Defensor issued a media statement that assailed Velasco as being “the worst.”  

The partylist solon ended his statement with a veiled warning: “See you next year.”

Defensor criticized Velasco for not informing him about being replaced  as chairman of the public accounts committee despite the fact that the speaker had the opportunity to do so.

“His recent move of naming 32 Deputy Speakers has been criticized,” the Anakalusugan partylist solon said.

Defensor stated: "He also mishandled changing the chairmanship of the Public Accounts Committee by not even giving me proper notice, even when he had the opportunity to tell me while we were at a meeting together discussing investigations and bills lined up before the Committee.”

“These actions show arrogance and unprofessionalism from Speaker Velasco and cause citizens to doubt his ability to lead the House at a time when we need unity,” stressed Defensor.

Nevertheless,  the former Quezon City congressman aired confidence in the leadership of Probinsyano Ako Partylist Rep. Jose “Bonito” Singson Jr. as his replacement in the panel.

“I am confident that under his leadership, the committee will continue to flourish and the oversight task given to us will be greatly strengthened,” Defensor said as he vowed to support Singson’s leadership of the House panel.

Having been identified with former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, Defensor had anticipated his relief but had expected Velasco to inform him about it as a sign of respect for a fellow member of the Lower House.

Defensor became the latest of Cayetano allies to be booted out of their post in the Lower House hierarchy.

Velasco and his allies moved to re-organize the House leadership shortly after the speaker was able to wrest the speakership from Cayetano during a bitter leadership struggle.

Following Cayetano’s downfall, Camarines Sur Rep. El Ray Villafuerte was given his walking papers as deputy speaker.  

Other Cayetano allies who were replaced as deputy speakers were Reps. Raneo Abu (NP, Batangas);  Dan Fernandez (NUP, Laguna) and Fredenil Castro (Lakas-CMD, Capiz).

Even PDP-Laban partymates of Velasco were not spared.  Among them were  Reps. Johnny Pimentel and  Aurelio Gonzales who were sacked as deputy speakers but given committee assignments.

Reps. Ron Salo (Kabayan Partylist) and Jonathan Sy-Alvarado (NP, Bulacan) are also among the Cayetano loyalists who lost their respective posts.  

Salo was replaced by Caloocan City Rep. Dale “Along” Malapitan as chairman of the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal while the outspoken Sy Alvarado was dismissed as chairman of the Committee on Good Government to give way for the election of  DIWA Partylist Rep. Michael Edgar Aglipay.