SUAREZ KEEPS MINORITY LEADER POST
T Suarez as minority leader via a viva voce (voice) vote on Tuesday
Some lawmakers called Suarez’s Alvarez recognized that the House election a “sham.” can disregard its own rules as long
House majority leader Rolando as it is approved by the majority of Andaya Jr. moved to end the period House members in a plenary vote. on debates on which group He was referring to the court should be considered the minority ruling on the case of Rep. Teddy bloc, and ultimately recognized Baguilat that sided with the decision Suarez as the minority leader. of then House majority leader
The impasse ended after more Rodolfo Fariñas to amend the than a week of debates. Rep. Romero House rules at the start of the 17th Quimbo of Marikina City from Congress in June 2016 to classify the Liberal Party and Rep. Eugene those who abstained from voting de Vera of ABS party-list claimed for the speakership as members of that they are the legitimate minority the minority bloc. leader because Suarez ousted “In that case [ of Baguilat vs. himself as minority leader when Alvarez], the Supreme Court said he voted for Rep. Gloria Arroyo that it cannot intervene in the as Speaker. procedural rules of the House.
Andaya however said the Supreme What is happening now is a procedural Court ruling on Baguilat vs. matter. So anyone can make a proper motion on which we [ in the plenary] can vote,” Andaya said.
Sources said Suarez’s group ballooned to 42 members and these were mostly those who voted for Arroyo as speaker.
Sham
Liberal Party lawmakers Raul Daza and Edgar Erice however described Suarez’s election as a sham.
“We do not deserve one more year of Suarez as minority leader. Aside from legal principles and moral reasons, this is about the very preservation of the House of Representatives. We all know what kind of a minority leader he is,” Daza said in a news conference.
“Congressman Suarez said it himself in a television interview. He said our colleagues want to join him in the minority bloc because he is close to Speaker Arroyo. Imagine that? Why are these people not joining the majority where there are more positions and committee chairmanships for them? Why join the minority? Because Congressman Suarez is close to Speaker Arroyo. How is
he supposed to provide check and balance with such [statements]?” Erice said.