(Eagle News) — For ABS Rep. Eugene de Vera, he is the new leader of the minority bloc of the House of Representatives.
In a television interview on Friday, Aug. 3, De Vera said this was after he was elected to the post by 13 congressmen, including former majority leader Rodolfo Fariñas and former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Thursday night.
De Vera said Rep. Danilo Suarez, who has also laid claim on the post, could not be the minority leader under House of Representatives rules as he campaigned for and voted for Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as Speaker.
Arroyo replaced Alvarez as the House leader on Monday, July 23.
As such, De Vera said Suarez could not kick him out from the minority bloc as he himself (Suarez) was a member of the majority.
“Please refer to the rules, and under the rules, I remain to be the minority leader,” De Vera said.
Apart from De Vera and Suarez, Rep. Miro Quimbo is also vying for the minority leader post.
Quimbo is backed by several members of the Liberal Party in the Lower Chamber who did not vote for Arroyo as Speaker.