Toby Tiangco quits UNA over minority leadership

MANILA, Philippines – Navotas Rep. Tobias “Toby” Tiangco on Monday afternoon said that he has officially resigned from the United Nationalist Alliance after serving as the opposition party's president in the run-up to the May elections.

“Nag-resign po ako bilang president at effectively bilang mieymbro ng UNA,” Tiangco confirmed in a televised phone patch interview.

Tiangco said he resigned due to a difference of view on the political alliances. 

He said that Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, who was among the nominees for speaker on Monday, set up a meeting between former Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay and  Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, who was elected speaker on Monday.

READ: UNA will be House's constructive minority

“Ang sinabi ayaw nilang maging minority yung Liberal Party at tutulungan yung UNA, bibigyan ng boto para talunin yung LP.  Of course, provided si Congressman Danny Suarez ang maging Minority leader,” Tiangco said. He said that he would prefer losing the leadership of the minority "fair and square" against former House Speaker Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr. or the LP to winning with help from the majority.

“Because of that difference I decided na, aalis na lang ako sa UNA at maging independent na lang ako sa House of Representatives,” he said.

Possible ‘game fixing’

Alvarez won the speakership by a landslide with 251 votes against his opponents Suarez and Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr, who got seven and eight votes respectively. There were 22 abstentions, but Tiangco insisted that he voted for "none of the above" but did not abstain.

Traditionally, Baguilat, as the losing nominee, will be the House Minority floor leader. However, since there were many abstentions, his leadership may be endangered, Tiangco said.

Tiangco said the 21 lawmakers who abstained may either vote for the majority or minority. He said these voters “are members of parties that have vowed to support Alvarez or members of the party-list coalition.”

“‘Yung 21 na ‘yun that could be the swing vote that can change the minority leadership. Speaker cannot be changed… Tatanggapin ba nila si Teddy? Saan pupunta ‘yung 21 na ‘yun,” Tiangco said.

He clarified that he does not mean to cast doubt on the 21 who abstained but was merely stating the possibility of vote changes.

“Mahirap na lagyan ng pagdududa. Ayaw ko naman husgahan ko ang kapwa ko. Sinasabi ko lang ang posibilidad,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, Baguilat his comments on his leadership of the House minority. 

Dami din abstain. Reserve vote for the annointed minority?

— Teddy B. Baguilat (@Teddy_Baguilat) July 25, 2016

Well I lost tremendously in d race for speakership. But won a ton of self-respect n perhaps appreciation from colleagues.

— Teddy B. Baguilat (@Teddy_Baguilat) July 25, 2016

If we follow old rules n by tradition, 8 votes are enough to make me minority floor leader. But they changed the rules. So many abstentions.

— Teddy B. Baguilat (@Teddy_Baguilat) July 25, 2016

As far as I know, I'm d minority floor leader. But well, it's a strange world...

— Teddy B. Baguilat (@Teddy_Baguilat) July 25, 2016