Quimbo to seek SC help in challenging House’s decision to retain Suarez as minority leader

Marikina City Representative Miro Quimbo on Tuesday said he would question before the Supreme Court the move of the House of Representatives to retain Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez as minority leader.

At a press conference, Quimbo, who led one of the groups that vied to be recognized as the minority, admitted getting sad over the decision of the House of Representatives.

"Malungkot kami dahil patuloy kaming umaasa na susundin talaga ang rules na matagal na nating pinaglabanan. At hindi lang yung rules na matagal nang ipinasa pero pati na yung desisyon ng Korte Suprema kung saan ipinaliwanag paano mabibilang ang minority," he said.

Quimbo was referring to the petition of Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat against former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Suarez, in which the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the latter.

In its decision, the court upheld the rules of the House wherein those who did not vote for the winning candidate for Speaker will become part of the minority, and they will choose their own leader.

"Apparently, notwithstanding the Supreme Court decision, hindi pa rin kami kinilala," Quimbo said.

"We need to take it to the Supreme Court para may stability din sa House. We cannot change the rules hindi lang in the middle of the ballgame, pero tapos na ang laro, binabago nila ang rules," he added.

Quimbo said respondents who will be named in the case they intend to file will include Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Majority Leader Rolando Andaya, and Suarez.

"We expect in the next few days na maihain na natin. This is only a question of law so madali ang pag-uusap," he said.

Quimbo, likewise, said some members of Suarez's group were pressuring lawmakers from his group to transfer to them.

"Yung ating newly-recognized fake minority, nanggagaling sa kanila yung mga banta na bakit kayo nandiyan e wala ba kayong kalaban sa susunod na eleksyon? Hindi niyo ba gustong magkaroon ng budget? Yan ang mga patuloy na pagbabanta," he said.

Despite this development, Quimbo said his group will remain steadfast in keeping checks and balances in the House of Representatives.

"Maaaring hindi nila binigay sa amin ang titulo namin as the real minority, pero ipaglalaban namin i-perform ang aming functions of doing the checks and balance," he said.

"We're going to be a strong and united bloc, kikilatis sa bawat issue, kikilatis sa performance ng majority, something which the current minority is failing to do," he added. — MDM, GMA News