More to face House purge
Revamp affecting anti-death penalty solons to resume in May
Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez yesterday disclosed that the purge of anti-death penalty lawmakers holding key posts in the House of Representatives will continue when session resumes in May.
Four members of the House majority bloc have been identified as among those who will get the ax for voting against House Bill 4727, which proposes the restoration of the death penalty in the country.
Alvarez said more lawmakers who voted “no” to the revival of the death penalty bill last week will be stripped of their posts, like the fate suffered by former President and now Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and 11 committee chairpersons who lost their positions early this week.
Among the four solons to be ousted, the case of Liberal Party (LP) Rep. Josephine Ramirez Sato of Mindoro Occidental could trigger a controversy as her position is in the Commission on Appointments (CA), a constitutional body. Several Malacañang allies in the Lower House want Sato, who
is identified with former President Benigno Aquino III, replaced as member of the CA.
But Sato warned her removal as CA member would be a violation of the Constitution as the powerful panel is a constitutional body “whose membership is based on proportional representation of the political parties in the House.”
“If I am removed based on my vote, then that would be an infringement of the independence of the Commission,” she said.
However, Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas told Sato that she could be replaced if LP names a replacement, representing the party.
Aside from Sato, expected to be stripped of committee positions are Reps. Raul del Mar of Cebu, Jocelyn Limkaichong of Negros Occidental, and Lianda Bolilia of Batangas.
Del Mar is vice chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations while Limkaichong and Bolilia are vice chairpersons of the Committee on Ways and Means. Under the House set-up, vice chairmen of Committees on Ap- propriations and on Ways and Means enjoy the same authority and benefits, if any, of committee chairmen.
Alvarez also said the revamp of key positions in the House of Representatives, directed against those who voted against the death penalty bill, will continue when Congress resumes session in May.
Last Wednesday, the House leadership declared vacant the positions of Deputy Speaker for Central Luzon held by Arroyo, and 11 committee chairmanships.
Cebu Rep. Ramon “Red” Durano VI was swiftly installed as replacement for Nationalist People’s Coalition Rep. Evelina Escudero of Sorsogon as chairperson of the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture.
Alvarez said that under a House policy, ousted House officials will be replaced by members of the same party to which they belong.
On the removal of Congresswoman Arroyo as deputy speaker of the House, Alvarez said he was merely implementing the policy he laid down as leader of the House.
During the Arroyo administration, Alvarez was appointed, at one time, secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications.
“Hindi po tayo namimilit kung ano po ang gustong iboto ng bawat miyembro. Nirespeto ko po yung kanilang desisyon, at sana respetuhin din naman yung policy na aking inilatag (We do not force a member to vote what they wish. We respect their decision and hope that they will also respect the policy we imposed),” he said.
The speaker also denied that the policy he laid down reflects on the House’s independence from what Malacañang’s dictates.
“That is a leadership-sponsored bill, and if you are part of the leadership, I think kailangan naman ay sumuporta ka doon sa liderato. Ngayon, kung ayaw mo sumuporta, siyempre maghahanap tayo ng mga tao na talagang susuporta sa liderato,” Alvarez said.