Tuesday, November 06, 2007 Admin legislators still open to oust de Venecia By Ben O. Tesiorna
THE cloak and dagger game has started in the House despite claims that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Lakas president Jose de Venecia have patched up their differences during a meeting in Malacanang over the weekend.
A highly-placed source informed Sun.Star Davao Monday that majority of the administration congressmen are still open to ousting de Venecia at any given notice by the Palace.
Davao City Rep. Prospero Nograles, rumored as being picked by Malacanang as de Venecia's replacement, however welcomed the reconciliation between the President and the Speaker.
Nograles had long been calling for the two top administration leaders to settle their differences for the good of the administration party and of the country as a whole.
He earlier said that the rumored coup in the Lower House is not likely to happen because the President needs de Venecia to quash the impeachment complaint filed against her before Congress.
A photo released by Malacanang over the weekend showed Arroyo sitting between former president Fidel Ramos and de Venecia.
The three political icons were all smiling with their thumbs up. Gathered around them in the picture were Lakas leaders, including Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita.
The picture was taken after a political caucus in Malacanang last Saturday. Arroyo said Lakas leaders agreed during the caucus not to allow "small hurts" to destroy the ruling coalition.
Malacanang said the caucus was held to patch things up in the party leadership.
