It’s final: Danilo Suarez is House minority leader

MANILA, Philippines — A majority of the 292-member House of Representatives voted yesterday to retain Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez as leader of the minority bloc, finallly ending the squabble for the post.

Administration lawmakers from the super majority coalition expressed their support for Suarez through a voice vote of “yes” or “no” after House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. moved to recognize him as minority leader.

But the victory of Suarez was questioned by Reps. Miro Quimbo of Marikina and Eugene de Vera of ABS party-list, who both wanted to take over as minority leader.

Quimbo objected to Andaya’s motion, which he described as unlawful.

“We raise our objection to the process for being illegal and in direct violation of the Supreme Court decision in 2017 where Suarez beat Rep. Teddy Baguilat,” Quimbo said.  

De Vera also disagreed with the move of the majority bloc. 

 “I politely object to this body that Rep. Suarez is the minority leader,” he said.

Former majority leader Rodolfo Fariñas, who belongs to the De Vera bloc, and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, who is allied with the camp of Quimbo, asked presiding officer Deputy Speaker Fred Castro how their votes were recorded. 

 “It is not the subject of the plenary. What the majority lawmakers have done is a violation of the House rules,” Lagman argued.

Suarez urged his colleagues to stop bickering.

“We have always been a constructive minority. We are not destructive. There is no need for us to fight. There are so many issues that we have to resolve,” he said.

On Tuesday, Andaya said House members would resolve the minority leadership row by putting it to a vote.

“We can put it to a vote if we are forced to. If the squabbling lawmakers cannot come into terms (with themselves), then the House plenary will decide,” he said.

“It’s all up in the air. We can’t decide yet at this point,” the Camarines Sur congressman added.

Suarez is a known ally of Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Leni Robredo backs Quimbo

Vice President Leni Robredo said Suarez’s recognition as minority leader “is a clear violation of the rules of the House of Representatives.”

Robredo said Suarez is one of the leading supporters of Arroyo.

The Vice President said those who voted for Arroyo as Speaker should automatically be part of the majority.

“How can we expect independence from this kind of minority, which was formed not by rules but with the permission of the majority?” Robredo asked.

She said Suarez’s appointment as minority leader could lead to the weakening of democratic institutions.

“Now more than ever we need a real opposition,” she said. “The House leadership has failed us in this moment.”

Robredo said she believes that the faction led by Quimbo is the real minority that will continue to defend human rights and the country’s sovereignty for the welfare of all Filipinos.  –  With Helen Flores