|
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
House Speaker race may become chaotic: lawmakers
MANILA -- Allies of House Speaker Jose de Venecia have warned that the battle for the House leadership could turn into a circus with the entry of new contenders "with questionable motives."
Pinoy Votes: Sun.Star Election 2007 Coverage
View here the list of local winners
In a statement, Representatives Vincent Garcia of Davao and Lorna Silverio of Bulacan appealed to all contenders to keep the keep the fight on a higher plane.
"Let's shun personal attacks," they said, adding that the race should be based on clear agenda and reforms.
Aside from Cebu Representative-elect Pablo Garcia, who is being field by the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) party of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the others who are eyeing the House speakership are Quezon City Representative Mary Ann Susano, Agusan del Norte Representative Edelmiro Amante, Cagayan de Oro Representative-elect Rufus Rodriguez, and Nueva Vizcaya Representative Carlos Padilla.
Kampi acting president Camarines Sur Representative Luis Villafuerte announced that 41 of their members, along with at least 23 others from other administration-affiliate parties, are backing Garcia of Cebu.
Padilla will represent the minority bloc in the race and is expected to claim the minority leadership.
Susano's staff told reporters of their boss' intention to join the contest for House Speaker. It then snowballed and attracted other contenders.
While every House member has the right to run for Speaker, Garcia lamented that the contest for House leadership has become a free-for-all with the list of contenders getting longer.
He said however that de Venecia's ability to woo the support of the majority would spell the difference. In that area, de Venecia seems to have the edge, having been voted as Speaker four times, he added.
Sorsogon Representative Jose Solis, meanwhile, called on Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno to stop committing the entire membership of the party into supporting de Venecia's new bid for the House leadership.
Solis said Puno, president of Kampi, should have consulted them before making an outright pronouncement endorsing the bid of de Venecia in the incoming 14th Congress, which will open on July 23.
"Let the members decide and select who to support because this is (speakership) a very important issue," he said. (RP/Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Bacolod. (June 6, 2007 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
City Hall set to block school building work