LP belies mutiny in House to unseat Belmonte

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. alleged replacement in a reported plot to unseat him denied yesterday any knowledge about the alleged House mutiny on Monday.

Breaking his silence after being named in the media as Belmonte’s heir as House leader, Western Samar Representative Mel Senen Sarmiento said the Liberal Party (LP), to which Belmonte and Sarmiento belong, has no intention to push for a reorganization in the Lower Chamber.

Sarmiento said that the reported plot is a mere “figment of imagination” of those who want to divide the cohesive administration party.

“All these claims of a coup against the Speaker are all lies and are designed to divide LP. I’m sorry to say that this will not stick. LP will be solid and LP is here to stay,” Sarmiento said.

The lawmaker said that he, Belmonte and other members of the ruling party “are bound by the same ideals and principles” and all of them will definitely rally behind another LP leader to ensure continuity on the reforms and programs that were set in place by President Aquino.

Earlier, a highly reliable source has disclosed that Belmonte has launched a loyalty check among colleagues in the majority bloc after receiving information that a coup d’etat to unseat him as House leader will be launched Monday.

Allegedly behind the plot to remove him as speaker are his own partymates in the LP who are solidly behind Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas’ reported bid to run for president 2016.

Reportedly being eyed as Belmonte’s replacement is Sarmiento who also acts as the LP spokesman.

Belmonte has never lost an elective post since he entered politics as a congressman for Quezon City’s Fourth District, making former Senator Francis Pangilinan as his first victim in the 1992 congressional race.

A press statement issued by the Nationalist People’s Coalition appeared to have confirmed the threat as its officials declared support for Belmonte’s continued leadership.