Suarez: Minority bloc will remove from post Eugene De Vera

Photo by Keith A. Calayag
Photo by Keith A. Calayag

HOUSE-recognized minority leader and Quezon Representative Danilo Suarez said the minority bloc will remove from his position Deputy Minority Leader and ABS Party-list Representative Eugene De Vera.

His statement came following the claim of former House majority leader Rodolfo Fariñas that De Vera is now the House minority leader.

In a press conference on Wednesday, August 1, Suarez said he was hurt upon knowing that De Vera sided with Fariñas.

"Masakit yun, kasamahan namin tapos iniwanan kami. Wala na kami magagawa dun," said Suarez.

Fariñas said Monday, July 30, that he has applied to the minority bloc to De Vera, along with 13 other former members of the majority.

Fariñas said De Vera is now the acting minority leader, as he is the only high-ranking lawmaker belonging to the minority who did not vote for Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Monday's election.

Suarez, Deputy Majority Leader Lito Atienza and Deputy Minority Leader Alfredo Garbin voted for Arroyo.

The members of the Suarez-led minority disputed Fariñas's claim, saying Suarez is still the minority leader and that even the plenary recognizes this.

Garbin noted that newly-installed Majority Leader Rolando Andaya during the session last July 30 addressed Suarez as the minority leader.

"That's a clear indication that the plenary recognizes Suarez as the minority leader," said Garbin.

According to Garbin, the Suarez-led minority now has 21 members. Five more lawmakers are yet to apply to the group, he said.

These are the members of the Suarez-led minority bloc:

1. Danilo Suarez (Quezon, 3rd district)

2. Aniceto John Bertiz (Acts-OFW)

3. Anthony Bravo (Coop-Natcco)

4. Alfredo Garbin (Ako-Bicol)

5. Luis Campos Jr. (Makati, 2nd District)

6. Harlin Neil Abayon III (Aangat Tayo)

7. Ana Marie Villaraza-Suarez (Alona)

8. Cecilia Leonila Chavez (Butil)

9. Orestes Salon (Agri)

10. Abigail Faye Ferriol-Pascual (Kalinga)

11. Arlene Arcillas (Laguna, 1st District)

12. Julieta Cortuna (A-Teacher)

13 Richard Eusebio (Pasig)

14. Delphine Gan Lee (Agri)

15. Ciriaco Calalang (Kabayan)

16. Lito Atienza (Buhay)

17. Teodoro Montoro (Aangat Tayo)

18. Benhur Lopez Jr. (Yacap)

19. Milagros Aquino-Magsaysay (Senior citizen)

20. Fransisco Matugas (Surigao del Norte)

21. Michelle Antonio (Agbiag)

Iligan Representative Frederick Siao, Zamboanga second district Representative Mannix Dalipe, Northern Samar second district Representative Edwin Ong, Bulacan third district Representative Lorna Silverio, and 1-Ang Edukasyon Representative Salvador "Bong" Belaro have yet to submit their application, said Garbin.

Meanwhile, the House minority bloc led by Marikina Representative Miro Quimbo, as of August 1, has 26 members.

They are the following:

1. Minority Leader Miro Quimbo (Marikina City, 2nd District)

2. Rep. Francis Gerald Abaya (Cavite, 1st District)

3. Rep. Vicente Alcala (LP - Quezon, 2nd District)

?4. Rep. Gary Alejano (Magdalo Party-List)

5. Rep. Isagani Amatong (Zamboanga del Norte, 3rd District)

6. Rep. Kaka Bag-ao (Dinagat Islands)

7. Rep. Teddy Baguilat (Ifugao)

8. Rep. Bolet Banal (Quezon City, 3rd District)

9. Rep. Kit Belmonte (Quezon City, 6th District)

10. Rep. Emmanuel Billones (Capiz, 1st District)

11. Rep. Gabby Bordado (Camarines Sur, 1st District)

12. Rep. Arlene Brosas (Gabriela Party-List)

13. Rep. Ariel Casilao (Anakpawis Party-List)

14. Rep. France Castro (ACT TEACHERS Party-List)

15. Rep. Raul Daza (Northern Samar, 1st District)

16. Rep. Emmi de Jesus (Gabriela Party-List)

17. Rep. Toff de Venecia (Pangasinan, fourth district)

18. Rep. Sarah Elago (Kabataan Party-List)

19. Rep. Edgar Erice (Caloocan City, 2nd District)

20. Rep. Edcel Lagman (Albay, 1st District)

?21. Rep. Jocelyn Limkaichong (Negros Oriental, 1st District)

22. Rep. Josephine Ramirez-Sato (Occidental Mindoro)

23. Rep. Amihilda Sangcopan (Anak Mindanao Party-List)

24. Rep. Antonio Tinio (ACT TEACHERS Party-List)

25. Rep. Tom Villarin (Akbayan Party-List)

26. Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate (Bayan Muna Party-List)

Quimbo also claimed that he is the minority leader and that his group is the duly-constituted minority bloc since they are the ones that abstained from the voting that elected Arroyo.

The battle between three groups for the minority has yet to be settled by the House of Representatives. (SunStar Philippines)

Trending

No stories found.

Just in

No stories found.

Branded Content

No stories found.
SunStar Publishing Inc.
www.sunstar.com.ph