(Eagle News) — Ousted House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez is throwing his support behind ABS Rep. Eugene De Vera in the squabble over who should be the minority bloc leader following the change of leadership in the House of Representatives.
Alvarez himself made the pronouncement in a meeting of PDP-Laban members on Thursday, Aug. 2, breaking his silence for the first time since he was removed as Speaker by a majority of his colleagues in the Lower Chamber.
“Kay Deputy Eugene de Vera kami because we believe siya ang duly constituted minority,” Alvarez said, after noting that he was not interested in the position.
Alvarez echoed the statement of his former House Majority Leader Rep. Rodolfo Farinas, who said Rep. Danilo Suarez, who continues to lay claim on the post, abandoned his post the moment they voted for Arroyo as Speaker, under House rules.
Rep. Miro Quimbo is also vying for the minority bloc leader post, backed by several members of the Liberal Party who did not vote for Arroyo as Speaker.
“Ok na ako”
Asked how he was after the ouster, Alvarez said, “OK na ako.”
“The pain lasted for only 24 hours,” he said.
He also thanked Farinas, who was reported to have known about the ouster plot against Alvarez, but who chose to stand by him.
Asked to comment on Arroyo’s take the Senate and the House of Representatives should vote separately once Congress convenes as a Constituent Assembly to propose changes to the Constitution, Alvarez stood by his belief the House alone could muster the necessary 3/4 votes of Congress specified in the Charter.
“Ako naman kasi, advocacy ko yan, suportado ko pa rin yan pero medyo wala na sa balikat ko ang responsibility,” he said.