Defensor: I’ll continue working despite Velasco’s ‘immature, haphazard decisions’

Anakalusugan party-list Representative Mike Defensor on Tuesday said he will continue working in accordance with the mandate given to him by the electors despite what he calls as Speaker Lord Allan Velasco's "immature and haphazard actions."

Defensor, a close ally of former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, made the remark after he was booted out on Monday as vice chairman of five committees at the House of Representatives under Velasco's speakership.

In a statement, Defensor said that despite losing his vice chairmanship in five committees, he still holds the same position in the Committees on Legislative Franchises and on Welfare of Children.

He expects, though, that he will soon be pushed out of these committees as well.

"Even outside these committees, I will continue to do the work I was elected to do despite the Speaker’s immature and haphazard actions," he said.

Defensor was replaced as vice chairperson in the Committee on Health by Cavite Representative Dahlia Loyola, in the Committee on Public Information by Leyte Representative Carl Nicolas Cari, and in the Committee on Dangerous Drugs by Camarines Sur Representative Arnie Fuentebella.

He also lost the same position in the Committee of Good Government and Public Accountability to Siquijor Representative Jake Vincent Villa, and in the Special Committee on Strategic Intelligence to Isabela Representative Ian Paul Dy.

Earlier, he was removed as chairperson of the House Committee on Public Accounts and replaced by Probinsyano Ako party-list Representative Jose "Bonito" Singson.

After losing all these posts, Defensor took a jab at Velasco and maintained that titles, names, and positions do not define lawmakers and the services they give to the people.

"He (Velasco) may be Speaker but he lacks the proper leadership. He may be Lord but he lacks the wisdom and good judgement to determine the right path of the House," Defensor said.

"Instead of uniting the House, he further divides it," he added.

Apart from Defensor, Camarines Sur Representative Luis Raymund Villafuerte, another Cayetano ally, was also removed as vice chair of the House Committee on Public Accounts.

Both lawmakers are part of the new bloc formed by Cayetano, which has been dubbed as "BTS sa Kongreso."

Deputy Speaker Lito Atienza said the removal of Defensor and Villafuerte from the posts is a "direct consequence" of their criticism of Velasco.

"The two cannot cry foul especially when they said they’ve lost faith in the present House leadership," Atienza said. "We are just carrying out their decision to bolt from the majority headed by the Speaker, whom they criticized openly." — RSJ, GMA News