Lagman bares Arroyo-led plot to oust him as opposition leader

In an unexpected turn of events, House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman is now accusing his long-time ally, former President and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, of plotting to oust him as opposition leader at the House of Representatives.   In a statement, Lagman said Mrs. Arroyo met with opposition members led by Deputy Minority Leader Danilo Suarez in her hospital suite at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) last Wednesday to discuss the supposed ouster plot.   Lagman said Mrs. Arroyo, who is facing electoral sabotage charges, asked opposition members to withdraw their support for Lagman by “not honoring” a resolution they earlier signed seeking to retain him in his post.   “GMA (Mrs. Arroyo’s initials) and her group are trying to convince the Lagman supporters not to honor their signatures,” Lagman said.   Lagman, who currently chairs the Lakas-Kampi-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) party, also said he is “not a GMA stooge” and “does not succumb to her bidding.”   Term-sharing agreement   Lagman and Suarez agreed to share the term as House minority leader two years ago. Suarez is supposed to take over the opposition leadership when sessions resume on Jan. 16.   Lagman, however, said that the term-sharing agreement would have only taken effect if the Arroyo-aligned lawmakers managed to get the House leadership, which was won by incumbent House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.   Suarez, for his part, said his agreement with Lagman was “clear” and that “he is not backing out” from the deal.   “This leadership issue has long been resolved… Ewan ko nga kung bakit nagba-back out si Edcel,” he said in a phone interview.   He admitted meeting with Mrs. Arroyo on Wednesday night, but belied Lagman’s claim that they were plotting to oust him. “The former President has nothing to do with this. We had a clear agreement, and he should honor that.”   The minority bloc at the House of Representatives currently has 29 members. - KBK, GMA News