DESPITE his ouster as a member of the Commission on Appointments (CA), Davao del Norte Representative Antonio "Tonyboy" Floirendo on Tuesday vowed to continue supporting President Rodrigo Duterte, whom he calls "family".
"As I continue to serve my people, I also continue to throw my support to the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte. Positions may come and go but my brotherly love for Digong (Duterte) remains forever. He is family. And family sticks together till the end," Floirendo said.
Floirendo is the top campaign donor of then candidate Duterte. He shelled out P75 million to Duterte's campaign kitty.
He said he will just focus on his job as his district's lawmaker following his ouster as a member of the CA that vets administration appointees.
"I will continue to serve my constituents and I don't seek any other higher position as I have always been reminded by my father to take care of the very people who helped us be where we are now," he said.
"After all, it is the people of my congressional district that is my utmost priority over anything else," he added.
In a motion during Monday's session at the House of Representatives, Deputy Majority Leader Juan Pablo Bondoc removed Floirendo and placed Zamboanga del Norte Representative Seth Frederick Jalosjos to the vacated post.
House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez earlier vowed to remove from the key positions lawmakers who would vote against the death penalty bill, as well as those who will not partake in the voting.
Floirendo was absent during the voting last March 7.
Floirendo and Alvarez have also been at odds after the reported confrontation of their girlfriends last year.
Alvarez had initiated a probe into the joint venture agreement of Floirendo's Tadeco and Bureau of Corrections (Bucor) that was allegedly disadvantageous to the government.
Floirendo is likewise facing a graft complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman over the Tadeco-Bucor deal, also filed by Alvarez. (SunStar Philippines)