LP, Makabayan solons endorse Benny Abante as their minority leader

Members of the Liberal Party and the progressive Makabayan bloc on Monday endorsed Manila 6th District Representative Benny Abante Jr. as their choice for the minority leadership at the House of Representatives.

Quezon City Representative Jose Christopher "Kit" Belmonte made the announcement ahead of the opening of the First Regular Session of the 18th Congress at the chamber.

"We agreed to support Representative Bienvenido 'Benny' Abante Jr. of the sixth district of Manila as our minority leader," Belmonte told reporters in a press conference.

"As his repeated election to the House of Representatives shows his constituents' trust and confidence in him, we echo this trust and confidence that he will have the interest of the Philippines and of all Filipinos," he added.

Belmonte, in his statement, stressed the country's need for a representative democracy "where plurality of voices is respected and encouraged."

He said that the voice of dissent ensures that people will enjoy their right to effective and reasonable participation in government.

"We recognize the imperative to uphold the checks and balances of power in the legislative branch, thus the need for an independent voice that will fiscalize and scrutinize," Belmonte said.

"A genuine minority speaks truth to power in safeguarding the country and the people it serves," he added.

With the coming together of Liberal Party members and Makabayan bloc congressmen, Belmonte said they will perform an "effective fiscalizing rule" as the House minority.

However, not all Liberal Party members will be joining the minority bloc. Caloocan City Representative Edgar Erice said at least seven congressmen from their party would join the majority.

"Balanseng-balanse ang LP," he told reporters in a separate chance interview.

Erice earlier said that some members of the Liberal Party were planning to join the administration-allied majority bloc at the House.

Capiz Representative Fredenil Castro earlier said he was considering the minority leadership post after he was persuaded by his fellow lawmakers. — RSJ, GMA News