Tuesday, June 05, 2007 Pablo sees more to Raul’s choice
CEBU City Rep. Raul del Mar will not support his bid for House Speaker because of self-interest, newly elected congressman Pablo “Pabling” Garcia said yesterday.
Garcia, who is challenging incumbent Rep. Jose de Venecia for Speaker in the coming Congress, said he understands del Mar’s decision to support de Venecia instead.
Del Mar, in explaining his decision to support de Venecia’s bid to retake the post he had been holding for four terms, said he gave de Venecia his commitment before Garcia announced his bid.
“There is more to it than palabra de honor which is how it appears right now. It is more of protecting his position than a commitment. It is self-interest, although I can understand and I don’t begrudge him for that. It is a legitimate concern,” said Garcia in a telephone interview yesterday.
History
He said that if he replaces de Venecia as Speaker, del Mar will not be able to hold on to his position as deputy speaker.
“If I am elected Speaker he will not be deputy speaker because that would be unthinkable and untenable. There has to be balance of power and so the Speaker and deputy speaker must not come from the same province. My speak-ership bid is inimical to his position as deputy speaker,” said Garcia, who won last May 14 as the Cebu second district representative to the Lower House.
Garcia, however, narrated “a bit of history” when Rep. Eduardo Gullas resigned as House majority floor leader in 1998 so he could support a Cebuano, Lito Osmeña, for president.
Garcia said he admired Gullas for his act. That year, Osmeña ran for president against de Venecia, whose running mate was then senator Gloria Arroyo.
Garcia, meanwhile, met with Arroyo last Friday at 3:30 p.m. and was assured by the President of her neutrality on the issue. He thanked the President for her position and told her it is consistent with the cons-titutional principle of separation of powers.
Both de Venecia and Garcia are allies of the President. De Venecia had shown support for Arroyo in the House of Representatives, defeating successive bids to impeach her. But Arroyo reportedly lost in de Venecia’s province in 2004 while Team Unity candidates fared poorly there last May.
Garcia, meanwhile, may have countered the move for people’s initiative but Cebu gave Arroyo a one million margin in 2004 and Team Unity candidates also did well in Cebu last May.
“The President did not ask me to withdraw. I told her also I will not back out because if I do, there will be speculations and I don’t want to leave a bad name to my children and grandchildren,” Garcia said.
JDV’s claim
De Venecia had claimed he already has more than 100 signatures of support from congressmen. Garcia, in response, said, “He can have the signatures but I will have the votes.”
“If he has the numbers, why is he working very hard and why is he willing to accept power-sharing?”
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña earlier said he would rather that del Mar and Rep. Antonio Cuenco vote for de Venecia, thinking the incumbent speaker has the numbers, so they can protect their House posts.
The Cebu City mayor also said Garcia is only being used by Kampi president Luis Villafuerte to get the chairmanship of the budget committee. Villafuerte had denied this.
“The people in Cebu know the kind of leadership of the Garcias. We are not manipulators and we do not intend to be manipulated,” said Garcia.
Garcia said Tomas’ father, Sergio Osmeña Jr., also ran for the speakership during his time but lost to a Romualdez.
Whatever happens to his candidacy, Garcia said, “at least another Cebuano tried.”
“Many Cebuanos are calling me and praying for me except Raul, of course, because he will pray to keep his position but I understand. I will only remember what Eddiegul did in 1998 when he resigned from a very important position to support a Cebuano,” said Garcia. (JPM)
