Party-list ousts Roque as representative

MANILA, Philippines – For acts inimical to the interest of Kabayan party-list group, officials of the group removed Harry Roque Jr. as their first nominee to the House of Representatives.

Resolution 2017-001, dated Jan. 12 showed that 10 members of the Kabayan Board of Trustees voted to remove Roque while two other directors abstained when the party ruled Roque’s behavior severely damaged the sectoral group.

Ron Salo, the second nominee who turned out to be Roque’s nemesis, was among the 12 trustees who deliberated on the case. They decided that Roque “be perpetually banned from attending any Kabayan party-list meetings, activities and other demeanors.”

But Roque was unfazed, noting that since he has not been given a copy of the decision, and that these have all been leaked to journalists, then it simply means “that the people behind this plot are after media mileage, not the interest of our party.”

“My alleged ouster from my party-list is of no moment, having been done in violation of the constitution and by-laws of the party itself, and by people who have usurped functions of the incumbent executive committee,” he reiterated.

“I can confidently say that I have the support of the various sectors that make up the party as well as the duly constituted executive board,” Roque said in a statement sent to media.

Among the bases for Roque’s ouster was the November 2016 hearing at the House where he asked sexual questions of Ronnie Dayan, the driver and former lover of former justice secretary and now Sen. Leila de Lima.

Kabayan officials questioned Roque’s behavior, which was made without their prior approval, especially because such pronouncements tarnished the group’s principled advocacies, not to mention cast serious doubts on its ability to deliver its core advocacies.

“Members and supporters have lost their trust and confidence in Roque’s ability to genuinely advance the core advocacies,” the three-page resolution read. “There is an overwhelming call for the removal of Roque as its representative in the House.”

“Roque’s continued stay with Kabayan party-list is inimical to its interest and its long-term sustainability as a principled party-list,” the committee members maintained.