(L-R) ABS Party-list Rep. Eugene de Vera, House Minority leader Rep.Danilo Suarez,Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo
QUEZON CITY, Philippines – The battle for the minority in the House of Representatives is deemed far from over.
Following his controversial retention as House Minority leader, Quezon 3rd District Representative Danilo Suarez is likely to face two complaints at the Supreme Court (SC).
Two other blocs contesting the minority leadership are the Liberal Party (LP)-Makabayan alliance led by Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo and the Alvarez-Fariñas group led by ABS Party-list Representative Eugene de Vera.
Quimbo said what the members of the majority did was unacceptable. He named the respondents to their complaint including House Speaker Gloria Arroyo, Majority Leader Rolando Andaya and Suarez for deliberately violating the House Rules.
“We need to take it to the Supreme Court para may stability rin para sa House. Hindi ito katanggap-tanggap at nakakahiya para sa ating Kongreso na ang Minority leader ay ini-appoint ng majority,” Quinbo argued.
Meanwhile, Fariñas’ group is also preparing their own lawsuit but aside from Arroyo, Suarez, and Andaya, they also plan to charge Quimbo’s group.
“Our petition is very simple. It is certiorari, prohibition, madamus, quo warranto lahat na,” said the former majority leader.
No more check and balance
The Makabayan bloc fears that there will no longer be checks and balances in the Lower House under Suarez given that he himself was among those who first voted for Arroyo as Speaker of the House.
“Kapag ang pumili at bumasbas sa minority ay majority, ano ang maaasahan natin dito? Hindi tunay na oposisyon sabi nga company union,” argued ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio.
Suarez, in defense of his position, said his closeness to Arroyo doesn’t mean he will always agree or give in to the decision of the majority.
He assures the public that he will focus more on his job. Among his priorities include the rice tariffication, the proposed 2019 national budget and the blocking of the passage of TRAIN-2.
When asked to react to the looming cases against him, Suarez said he will just let his colleagues do what they want.
“We cannot stop them. Itong issue ng leadership ng minority itabi na natin. Tapos na itong isyu,” he concluded. – Grace Casin / Marje Pelayo
The post House Minority squabble heads to SC appeared first on UNTV News.