(Eagle News) – Former House majority leader Rodolfo Fariñas on Wednesday questioned House Resolution 2025 which contained the June 23 proceedings that installed Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the new House Speaker.
The Ilocos Norte first district representative noted that he was still the chair of the House Committee on Rules as of the last session day, and that based on House procedures this resolution should have first passed his committee.
Fariñas said that the Deputy Speaker Rolando Andaya introduced this resolution at a time that he was still the committee chair on Rules of the House of Representatives.
“As of the last session the other day, I am the majority leader of the House of Representatives and the chairman of the committee on rules,” he stressed on the House floor Wednesday afternoon.
He then asked, “May I know if this resolution passed the committee on rules?”
Deputy Speaker Rolando Andaya, Jr., who was presiding the session, then said “yes.”
To this, Fariñas replied, “ I am the chairman of the committee on rules and I do not know of any such resolution, Mr. Speaker.”
Andaya answered that majority of the members of the House had then elected an interim majority leader in the person of Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro. He said that this was “agreed upon by majority members of the House.”
“Majority leader please proceed,” said Andaya, instructing Rep. Castro while banging the gavel to drown out the continued objections of Farinas.
“Another point, another point..” said Farinas, trying to interject.
But Andaya again called the attention of Rep. Castro, “Majority Leader please proceed,” as Farinas continued to object.
Amid the din, Castro said, “ I move to adopt House Resolution Number 2025.”
“Objection, I object,” another lawmaker, ACT Teachers’ Partylist Rep. Antonio Tinio, shouted, as Fariñas continued also to object to the resolution.
But Andaya ignored the repeated objections of both Tinio and Farinas.
“There is an objection, point of order,” both Tinio and Farinas said.
But Andaya continued as if hearing nothing, “There is a motion to adopt House Resolution No. 2025. Those who are in favor say aye, those who are not in favor say nay. The ‘ayes’ have it. Resolution number 2025 is hereby adopted.”
He then banged the gavel, even as Farinas and Tinio continued to shout their objections.
“Peke ito, peke ito!” Tinio shouted as Andaya proceeded to ignore the objections.
“Session suspended,” Andaya said.
Tinio continued to shout his objections even after Andaya had banged the gavel.
“Pinatayan ninyo ako ng mic! May nag-oobject pa rito, ni hindi man niyo kinilala! Kitang kita naman oh!” Tinio shouted thinking his mic had already been turned off.
“Mahiya naman kayo! I am objecting!” Tinio shouted.
“Nakabukas yung mic, sige na, buwelo ka na. Nakabukas yung mic,” Andaya replied.
“Naka-suspend tayo, Mr Speaker,” Tinio said pointing out Andaya’s previous actions of suspending the proceedings despite the objections.
“Kung magbobotohan, tatanungin muna kung may objection, at malinaw na may objection,” Tinio said.
This was the latest drama that unfolded at the Lower House as the new House Speaker, Arroyo, and her allies sought to bolster her position as the new House leader.
Lawmakers scrambled for committee chairmanships and positions following the downfall of former House speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and his allies which happened right before the eyes of the diplomatic corps who were at the House of Representatives to watch President Rodrigo Duterte’s third State of the Nation Address on Monday, July 23.
Observers were stunned with Monday’s developments that had delayed President Duterte’s SONA speech for an hour and 20 minutes — a first in the history of State of the Nation Addresses.
(Eagle News Service)