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Monday, July 23, 2007
Garcia, de Venecia in showdown for House speakership
By Jeanette P. Malinao
MAKATI CITY -- Gunning for the country’s fourth top position may involve a big fight but it will not be the toughest in his lifetime, said Rep. Pablo Garcia as he expressed readiness to face, what he admits, is a political giant in the elections for House speaker Monday.
He will accept the outcome of Monday’s elections as God’s will. Even if he loses, he said today will be recorded in history as the day he took up the challenge and gave House Speaker Jose de Venecia his first serious contender.
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“Let’s go! Ug unsay mahitabo, okay. I am ready and I am willing to accept what happens. At least, this election will be a first in history kay sauna wala ma’y challenge. I accepted this because my colleagues feel nga alangan sige na ba lang nga siya,” said Pablo, 81 (Why, does it always have to be him?).
The last time a Cebuano was elected as House speaker was 100 years ago.
Having served as a congressman before he finished three terms as Cebu governor, Pablo also said it would be the first time there will be intense floor deliberations on a matter, such as the secret balloting for the elections.
Pablo met with congressmen from different political parties Sunday and discussed the plan to push for it Monday, when the 14th Congress holds session for the first time.
He said he met with De Venecia last Wednesday and told the four-term speaker about his plan to move for secret balloting.
He said he told his contender that since he claims to have 177 signatures of support, then the incumbent speaker should have nothing to worry about.
He got a refusal, with De Venecia citing that his partymates had overruled him.
For Pablo, this shows weakness on the part of De Venecia because he believes that if one is confident of his strength, then he would not be afraid of a secret balloting.
“Nag-panic na sila sa secret balloting. I find this (campaign for speakership) challenging, entertaining and amusing,” said Garcia (They’re panicking on having a secret balloting).
“I will not lose sleep over this, although De Venecia is already losing sleep,” he added.
What he considers the toughest fight in his life, he said, is the campaign in 2004 for his daughter, Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.
Contrary to his political family’s previous battles, where he has been vocal about issues, Capitol consultant and now Rep. Pablo John Garcia will not be joining the deliberations this time out of delicadeza
“It’s my father who is running and whatever I say there would be self-serving. Also, there are a lot of competent congressmen who can take the cudgels (for us),” Pablo John said. (Sun.Star Cebu)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Manila. (July 23, 2007 issue)
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Jose De Venecia is Speaker of the House