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Arroyo's election as Speaker led to rise of true minority —De Lima


A "true opposition" in the House of Representatives has emerged with the election of former President and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as Speaker.

In a statement on Saturday, detained Senator Leila de Lima said that the power squabble at the lower chamber of Congress that led to the assumption of Arroyo as Speaker has brought about an  "unintended benefit" —the rise of a true minority. 

"Minsan may magandang naiidulot ang masamang pangyayari. Sa social science ay tinatawag itong 'unexpected consequence' o 'unintended benefit'," De Lima said in a dispatch from her detention cell in Camp Crame.

"Halimbawa: Ang pagkahalal kay GMA [media byname for Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo] bilang bagong Speaker ay nagbunga ng isang tunay na minorya sa kamara." 

She made the remark after members of the "Magnificent 7" opposition group and the progressive Makabayan Bloc have joined the Liberal Party-led minority coalition, choosing as its leader Marikina City Representative Miro Quimbo.

"Hindi siguro akalain ni GMA at kanilang mga political operators na ang pagiging Speaker ni GMA ay maghuhudyat ng pag-usbong ng isang lehitimong oposisyon. Mula sa unang grupo ng 12, ngayon ay 26 na sila sa minorya at mukhang dadami pa," she said.

"Whatever were the reasons behind the closing of opposition ranks – whether some are just consistently anti-GMA, some are anti-Duterte regulars, or others may have seen a second chance to be politically relevant –still, the emergence of this new and true LP-led House Minority is a 'shot in the arm' and a much needed boost to an opposition that has practically been [destroyed]  under the tyrannical duopoly of Alvarez and Fariñas," she added.

De Lima, an opposition lawmaker in the Senate, also urged the emerging opposition in the House to do what is right, oppose the proposed Charter change (Cha-cha), and fight for the rights of the poor.

"Maging tinig po sana kayo para sa kapakanan at kagalingan ng mga Pilipino. Labanan po sana ninyo ang mga patayan at mga paglabag sa karapatan ng marami, lalo na ng mga mahihirap."

"Kontrahin po sana ninyo ang Cha-cha at iba pang balak na hindi talaga para sa tao kundi para sa mga abusadong pulitiko. Tumindig po sana kayo para sa soberanya ng Pilipinas. Busisiin po ninyo ang pambansang budget at tiyakin na ang pera ng bayan ay mapupunta sa mga programa at proyektong talagang kinakailangan." —Ted Cordero/LBG, GMA News

 

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