Thursday, October 18, 2007 Dabawenyos divided over Nogie as House Speaker By Ben O. Tesiorna
MANY Dabawenyos expressed their whole-hearted support on the probable ascendance of Davao City 1st District Rep. Prospero Nograles as the first ever Speaker of the House from Mindanao.
Not everyone is happy though. As expected, militant leaders in the region have expressed their opposition to Nograles's becoming the Speaker.
"Good news to some, not so good news to others," Davao City Councilor Leonardo R. Avila III said.
Jeppie Ramada of Bayan Muna said Nograles remains as not having been able to address various issues when he was still the House Majority Leader.
He added that Nograles leading the House would not make any change on the image of Congress being lapdog of the administration.
"Being GMA's rabid ally, Nograles's appointment to the portal of the House speakership will not change Congress' image as Malacañang's stamping pad in matter of defending Arroyo's vicious interest to cling to power amidst controversies and further isolation. There are also issues that haunt Nograles when he was the majority floor leader such as promising to workers to have the P125 wage increase discussed in the plenary," Ramada said.
Other officials in the region, however, expressed their support to Nograles, saying it's about time that a Mindanaoan, in particular a Dabawenyo, head the House.
"Okay lang kay from Davao. I will support," Compostela Valley Governor Arturo Uy said.
"Why not," Councilor Bonifacio Militar said.
"Very much welcome. Dapat taga Mindanao na naman," added Tagum City Mayor Rey Uy.
A national daily reported Tuesday that President Gloria Macapaga-Arroyo's marching order was to oust Speaker Jose de Venecia and this is being heeded in earnest by her allies.
In a meeting over the weekend in Malacañang, top brass of Kampi, along with some Lakas congressmen known to be loyal to the presidential couple, allegedly discussed the ouster of de Venecia, who has had a falling out with the Arroyo couple.
The Kampi congressmen said to be plotting the downfall of De Venecia allegedly agreed with the President that the new Speaker would have to come from Lakas, not from Kampi.
It was then that the name of Nograles as Malacañang's candidate for Speaker came up, and the President quickly agreed, as Nograles, even if he is identified with Lakas, is loyal to President Arroyo and the First Gentleman.
Kampi cannot reportedly afford to put up a candidate coming from its ranks, because this will not be acceptable to the Lakas members. But Nograles as speaker would be acceptable to both Lakas and Kampi.
Nograles allegedly knows of the Malacañang plan to have him succeed de Venecia, and allegedly has not posed objections.
