Pabling’s son, Rep. Pablo John Garcia, said that their political party, the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi), is now “closing ranks” to support the only Kampi member vying for the position.
Pabling is congressman of the 15-town second district of Cebu, while Pablo John represents the third district, which includes Toledo City.
Pabling said yesterday that of the 177 congressmen who signed a document published in a national newspaper expressing support for De Venecia, 86 of them are with him.
The proposed caucus of all congressmen will solve the problem for the opposition with two administration candidates vying for the speaker’s post. It will ensure that the minority leader is from the opposition bloc, said Pablo John.
“There’s someone working at an arrangement for secret balloting by all members of the House before the election proper, but I don’t think the other camp has accepted the proposal yet,” said Pablo John.
If the proposal will push through, the secret balloting will determine who between De Venecia and Pabling will have the greater number of supporters so the one with fewer supporters would no longer present himself during the elections.
Pablo John also called the publication of the supposed signatures a “cheap shot” from De Venecia and proof that the incumbent speaker is “insecure” about his reelection.
“It was a show of weakness… There are certain traditions and rules of Congress, and that publication violated all rules of protocol and good taste,” said Pablo John.
For one, the younger Garcia said, the signatures were mainly in support of Arroyo’s development agenda although it happened that the last portion mentioned support for de Venecia’s leadership.
Moreover, Pablo John said that support for de Venecia was from congressmen of the 13th Congress and would in no way reflect the sentiments of the 14th Congress.
On Cuenco’s recent declaration that he’ll support De Venecia because Pabling will surely lose, Pablo John said he will not believe it because he was present when Cuenco declared support for Pabling in Makati City.
Throwing back at Cuenco his campaign statement against Jonathan Guardo last May 14, Pablo John responded to Cuenco’s claim:
“Di gyud ko mutuo nga pildiro si Pabling Garcia kay ang House of Representatives, dili mapalit.” (The House can’t be bought.) (JPM)
