IFUGAO Representative Teddy Baguilat has vowed to continue performing his role as a member of the legitimate minority group in the House of Representatives, following the questionable move to again name Rep. Danilo Suarez, who voted and campaigned for Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as Speaker, leader of the House minority group.
Baguilat, who should have been the House minority leader in 2016 had the traditional rules been followed, said that he and the rest of the magnificent 7 - those who have consistently been in the opposition - will continue to abide by their duty to call out any wrongs that they will find as part of their duty as representatives of the people in the lower chamber of Congress.
He also said that he supports the plan of Cong. Miro Quimbo and their Liberal Party allies to file a case before the Supreme Court questioning Suarez’ installation as minority leader.
“The House of Representatives is doing a harakiri by retaining a fake minority. Choosing Cong. Quimbo over Cong. Suarez would have improved the people’s trust in the law making ability of the lower house”, he said.
Baguilat said with Suarez at the helm of the minority group, given his close ties with Speaker Arroyo, there will be no real voice of the opposition in the House and that does not bode well for the deliberations in the House of Representatives, which needs a plurarity of opinions.
Having at least two sides in the House of Representatives, Baguilat emphasizes, ensures that the bills will be thoroughly vetted before becoming law.
“Having a true opposition in the House is a vital part of our democratic process. Sadly, that has been compromised because there is no real minority in the House, and there has not been one since 2016,” he said.
But even with the naming of Suarez, Baguilat said this will not stop him or the other members of the magnificent 7 from being the needed critics in any deliberation.
“That is our duty and I will not shirk from it,” he said.
At the same time, Baguilat said he welcomed the commitment of Speaker Arroyo to retain the budget for all of the representatives in the House of Representatives, a departure from the policy of former Speaker Alvarez, who attempted to silence the opposition by removing the budget from their districts.
“This is just the right thing to do because that budget is for the people in the Congressional districts. That should not have anything to do with politics and the voice of the opposition should never be silenced,” he said. (SunStar Baguio)