(Eagle News)—-Rep. Miro Quimbo on Sunday, July 30, said it was up to newly elected Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to decide who would be the minority in the House of Representatives.
Quimbo made the pronouncement in an interview over radio dzbb, following differing positions on who should constitute the bloc under Arroyo’s leadership.
Rep. Edcel Lagman said that under the rules, those who did not vote for Arroyo as Speaker should automatically comprise the new minority, but Rep. Danilo Suarez, the minority bloc leader during the term of Arroyo’s predecessor, Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, said he would write the new Speaker so the current minority bloc could be retained.
Several Liberal Party members led by Quimbo also noted they should be the new minority bloc as they did not vote for Arroyo as the House’s new leader.
“Kahit ano pang gawin namin diyan, kung sino ang gustong kilalanin ng Speaker, ‘yun ang mananaig,” Quimbo said.
But even before Arroyo made clear her decision, Quimbo already thumbed down the idea of Suarez’s group being recognized as the minority bloc.
According to Quimbo, the Lower House would all the more be the “laughing stock” if the group that campaigned for and voted for Arroyo to be Speaker was given the recognition.
“Nananawagan kami na dapat matuto tayo sa eleksyon na ito para gawin natin ‘yung tama, sundin natin ‘yung rules. Hindi naman pwede na nagsisimula pa lang tayo, lalabagin na natin agad ito,” Quimbo said.
