Arroyo allies want Fariñas retained as majority leader

MANILA, Philippines — A large group of allies of newly installed Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is working to retain Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas as the majority leader.

The group, led by several congresswomen-friends of Fariñas, is circulating a manifesto for his retention as the second highest-ranking official of the House of Representatives and a key player in moving legislation.

Sources told The STAR that as of yesterday, many House members had signed the manifesto.

The group is also proposing the retention of Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez as minority leader.

Fariñas’ friends have already informed Arroyo of their initiative. It was not clear what her reaction was.

The group has sent emissaries to Davao City to get President Duterte’s blessing on retaining the Ilocos Norte congressman, who had been majority leader since Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez was elected speaker at the start of the 17th Congress in July 2016. He got ousted in chaotic proceedings last Monday.

The retain-Fariñas move was hatched last Wednesday at a birthday celebration of a Central Luzon congresswoman.

The group is working feverishly to obtain the signatures of a majority of the 292 House members in time for next week’s expected reorganization of the House by its new leadership.

“We will try to start filling key positions on Monday. We will begin with the position of majority leader and then try to resolve the contentious minority leadership issue,” Rep. Michael Romero of party-list group 1-Pacman, told ABS-CBN News Channel.

Romero is an assistant majority leader and a member of the committee on rules, which the majority leader chairs.

The majority leader acts as traffic policeman of all measures introduced in the House. With clearance from the Speaker, he determines what goes into the daily order of business of the chamber. He shepherds plenary proceedings personally or through his deputies and assistants. That’s how important his job is.

The majority leader and chairmen of key committees, including the committee on accounts, which manages House funds, are normally the personal choices of the Speaker.

Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr., a deputy speaker, has been presiding over the sessions since Monday, with another deputy speaker, Fredenil Castro of Capiz, as temporary majority leader.

Arroyo reportedly prefers Andaya, who served as her budget secretary, for the majority leader’s post.

The position’s vacancy could continue to pose problems for the new leadership. Last Wednesday, Fariñas questioned the route taken by Resolution 2025, which sought to validate Arroyo’s election Monday night.

He said the measures should have passed through the rules committee before the plenary session tackled it.

“As of today, I am still the chairman of the committee on rules and I have not seen it,” he said.

Andaya, the presiding officer, told Fariñas that the new majority has chosen Castro as acting floor leader. He said the rules committee had met and endorsed Resolution 2025.

He then put the resolution to a vote despite the vigorous objections of Fariñas and Rep. Antonio Tinio of party-list Alliance of Concerned Teachers, and the House overwhelmingly approved the measure.

Sources said the Ilocos Norte congressman’s loyal congresswomen-friends are reasoning out that if he were retained, the majority leadership issue would no longer be a headache for Arroyo.

The Marcos-Romualdez bloc and its supporters are opposing the Fariñas loyalists’ initiative. It was Fariñas who initiated the investigation of Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos for using tobacco funds to buy 110 multi-cabs.

The governor was photographed celebrating in front of the Speaker’s podium Monday night after Alvarez was ousted and Arroyo was installed.