Quimbo insists he, not Suarez, is minority leader

Marikina Representative Miro Quimbo on Friday insisted those who did not vote for Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo are the real minority in the House of Representatives, contradicting AKO Bicol party-list Representative Rodel Batocabe.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, Quimbo said the group of Quezon Representative Danilo Suarez cannot be the minority as they voted for Arroyo as Speaker.

"Katawa-tawa naman na ang kikilalaning oposisyon, ang magche-check and balance ng mayorya, ay hindi lang kakampi kundi kabagang, taga-kampanya pa. Presidente ng fan’s club. Pupuwede ho ba iyon?" he said.

Both Quimbo and Suarez are claiming to be the Minority Leader following the change of leadership at the House.

Quimbo said he and other Liberal Party and opposition lawmakers in the House  are the new "duly-constituted" minority bloc as they did not vote for Arroyo.

This, he said, is in accordance with House rules that was affirmed by a Supreme Court decision.

Suarez

In a separate interview, Suarez said he remains the minority leader as no voting occurred at the House except for the speakership last Monday.

"Ang pinag-usapan [ay] 'yung speaker, walang iba. So 'yung ibang mga committees, ibang mga chairman, maraming nakapuwestong congressman... lahat 'yun status quo," he said.

"Ang bumoto kay GMA (Arroyo's initials) ay part ng naniniwala that she will be a good leader, 'yun lang," he added.

Suarez, who was elected minority leader in 2016, denied that the minority under him will be a "rubber stamp" minority as accused by Quimbo.

"My track record will speak for itself," he said. "Maayos naman trabaho namin. Minority nga kami pero pag maganda proposal ng majority tutulong kami, pero pag mali kokontrahin namin." 

Rules

Batocabe claimed on Thursday that the rules in choosing the members of the majority and minority blocs cannot be applied in the apparent shake-up in leadership positions after last Monday's change in House leadership because the chamber is not in the process of organizing itself.

Batocabe maintained that Suarez remains as the House Minority Leader.

Quimbo, on the other hand, described the Suarez-led minority as "huwad" (fake). —KBK, GMA News