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Friday, February 01, 2008
Kampi to JDV: Save face, step down
MANILA -- The Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) has advised House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. to save his face by voluntarily stepping down instead of being ousted during the plenary session on Monday.
Kampi president and Camarines Sur Representative Luis Villafuerte said that after their meeting on Wednesday night in Quezon City, the party members tasked him to personally speak to de Venecia to convince him to voluntarily bow out to pave the way for a smooth transition of power.
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"We want to give him the courtesy. We want to give him the chance of (having) a graceful statement," he said.
Villafuerte, who also leads the reform bloc, said he wanted to meet the Speaker this week but postponed it for Monday as news reports have preempted their plan.
Kampi, which has at least 50 members at the House, is the party founded by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo when she was still a senator.
During the meeting, Kampi unanimously decided to take a stand against de Venecia's leadership, which is reportedly being challenged by Representative Prospero Nograles (Lakas, Davao City).
Villafuerte said 134 congressmen -- including Representatives Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo of Pampanga, his brother Diosdado of Camarines Sur and their uncle Ignacio of Negros Occidental -- have already signed a manifesto announcing their loss of confidence and withdrawal of support to de Venecia's leadership.
He said 56 signatories came from Kampi and the rest came from members of the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), Liberal Party and some independent and party-list congressmen.
A simple majority or 120 signatories are needed to oust de Venecia.
"We have already exceeded the majority. As explained by Speaker Jose de Venecia himself, which was a challenge to us, that whoever can present to him 121 signatures, he will step down," Villafuerte said.
He said the Speaker should better grab the opportunity to save face instead of putting up a fight.
Representative Antonio Cerilles (NPC, Zamboanga del Sur), also a member of the reform bloc, said it would be best for de Venecia to finally wave the white flag.
"If he truly cares for the House of Representatives, Speaker de Venecia will step down and allow the groups that want to restore the good image of the House and reinvent Congress. Now is the time for change," he said.
In a fighting mode, de Venecia said his opponents "don't have the numbers."
"They are under the gun and they are pressured to produce warm bodies on the floor. There's going to be a floor fight," he said.
De Venecia is convinced that his son Joey's damaging statements against First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo is the reason behind the brewing attempt to oust him.
The President congressman-allies initiated efforts to remove de Venecia last September after his son Joey accused the First Gentleman of bullying him into backing out of the US$329 million National Broadband Network (NBN) deal with China's ZTE Corp.
De Venecia and the President's political relationship turned sour after the younger de Venecia claimed that Mr. Arroyo stood to benefit from the anomalous deal.
Last Tuesday, Joey accused Mr. Arroyo of ordering his minions at the House to unseat de Venecia who is now being pitted against Nograles who is known for his close ties with the First Gentleman.
De Venecia hinted that he would only continue supporting the President if he retains the House leadership.
De Venecia also took potshots at Nograles, saying he has allowed his ambition to get the best of him.
House Minority Leader Ronaldo Zamora said only the President can save de Venecia from ouster. (WV/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. (February 1, 2008 issue)
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