House Speaker likely to be caretaker of Iggy's district

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

HOUSE Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. will likely assume the responsibility of caretaker of the district of the late Negros Occidental Representative Ignacio "Iggy" Arroyo who died of a liver ailment last week.

"(I'll be the caretaker) only as last resort, although the government is already getting list of projects from Iggy's mayor for funding," said Belmonte.

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Reports earlier said that Representative Mercedes Alvarez of the sixth district of Negros Occidental and Representative Jeffrey Ferrer of the fourth district have expressed willingness to serve as caretaker.

The House Speaker earlier rejected the idea of calling for a special elections considering that such political exercise will be conducted just a few months close to the 2013 midterm polls.

The House of Representatives on Monday night expressed their condolences to Arroyo through the adoption of a resolution acknowledging their colleague's “illustrious legislative career that was marked by a deep concern for and unwavering dedication to alleviate the plight of marginalized sectors of the society such as teachers, seafarers, the youth and exploited children, day care workers, rural health workers and overseas Filipino workers”.

Arroyo was one of five opposition lawmakers whose yearly P70-million priority development assistance fund (PDAF) have been withheld. The Speaker said he would release the same for the benefit of Arroyo’s constituents.

Minority Leader Danilo Suarez also appealed to Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad to implement the district projects identified by the late congressman.

“He’s already dead. Hopefully, Secretary Abad will fund the projects Congressman Iggy Arroyo identified,” he told reporters in a press briefing.

Suarez also reiterated the call of the camp of former President turned-Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to allow the latter to leave her hospital suite and attend the wake of her brother-in-law.

Arroyo is detained for electoral sabotage charges at the Veteran Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City.

Suarez noted that Arroyo "is still in some pain and discomfort although she started to feel an improvement in her condition." (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)