Fariñas lobbying to keep House majority post, Arroyo ally says
MANILA — Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas has been in talks with the camp of new House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to persuade the new leadership to let him keep his post as House majority leader, one of Arroyo's allies said yesterday.
Fariñas is asking some congresswomen to sign a manifesto that would re-elect him as House majority leader, current House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez told ABS-CBN News.
"Pinapipirma ni Rudy 'yung mga babae. Eh he's assuming na mabait siya sa kanila. I really don't know his motive," Suarez said, adding that Fariñas was the chief lieutenant of Arroyo's predecessor, ousted Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.
Suarez said Fariñas will not get enough signatures, because lawmakers no longer want him as majority leader. "It will not prosper. We don't want him back. There was a consensus, napag-decide they don't want him," he said.
Buhay Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza, another Arroyo ally, told Fariñas that he could keep his post if he would vote for Arroyo as Alvarez's replacement.
"Alam ko at the height of the floor action merong nagoffer sa kanya, 'Sumama ka na we would want you retained.' He refused that arrangement," Atienza said.
Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya, Arroyo's former budget secretary and the presiding officer during the post-State of the Nation Address session that completed the House coup, would likely be named as new majority leader, Suarez said.
Fariñas has yet to comment on the issue.