Erice sees Sandro Marcos' hand in removing him from House leadership post

Caloocan Representative Edgar Erice on Wednesday accused House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos of Ilocos Norte of playing a role in his removal from the House Senior Deputy Minority Leader post.

According to a "24 Oras" report by Darlene Cay, no less than Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan informed him about his replacement.

"Sabi niya sa akin, pare, hindi ko na kaya iyong pressure sa itaas (He told me he could no longer bear the pressure from above)," Erice said, adding that Libanan had earlier told him that he gets calls whenever he delivers speeches criticizing the policies of the government.

He also questioned the independence of the House minority when its leader was, in fact, chosen by the leaders of the majority.

In a separate privilege speech on Wednesday, Erice also said, "Yesterday, I was removed and replaced as Senior Deputy Minority Leader without any stated reason. But let me say this clearly. I have no bitterness about my replacement. In fact, I am honored that I was replaced by a fellow liberal and a far stronger fighter for truth and justice, Congresswoman Leila de Lima [of ML party-list]."

“Nagpapasalamat rin po ako kay Minority Leader Nonoy Libanan. Alam ko po na nakatali ang kanyang mga kamay. Malaki na rin po ang kanyang sakripisyo sapagkat madalas siyang tinatawagan ni Majority Leader Sandro Marcos [of Ilocos Norte] dahil sa aking tuloy-tuloy na kritisismo sa mga polisiya ng administrasyong Marcos.  Uulitin ko po, policies not personal attacks,” Erice added, referring to the son of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.

(I also thank Minority Leader Libanan. I know his hands are tied, and he has sacrificed a lot because Majority Leader Sandro Marcos is always calling him over the phone because of my criticisms of the policies of the Marcos administration.)

Erice said his criticisms of how the national budget was allocated and the administration’s lack of action in running after those behind the flood control mess are legitimate criticisms.

“I have faithfully performed my duty as Senior Deputy Minority Leader. I have raised questions. I have spoken the truth. I have offered well-meaning criticisms in the interest of accountability. But it appears that this House leadership does not welcome criticism,” Erice said.

“And that is the real problem of dynastic politics. When the President of the Republic has a son serving as Majority Leader of this House, there is an unavoidable conflict of interest. When a son becomes overly protective of his father instead of protecting the integrity of legislation,” Erice added.

Erice also cited an instance when Rep. Marcos supposedly called him out after criticizing the President over the national budget for 2023, 2024 and 2025.

“Hindi pa po ako tapos magsalita nang ako ay sunduin ni Minority Leader [Marcelino] Libanan at dalhin sa opisina ni Majority Leader Sandro Marcos. Pagdating po namin, nandoon na rin si Speaker Bojie Dy. Nakaupo po ako, tahimik ako, sinita ako ni Congressman Marcos at tinanong, ano yun?,” Erice said.

(I am not even finished with my speech when the Minority Leader fetched me and brought me to the office of Majority Leader Marcos. And when we arrived, the Speaker was there, and I sat quietly. And Congressman Marcos said to me, what was that?) 

“I replied that the anti-political dynasty advocacy has long been one of my advocacies. Ngunit sinabi niya, hindi yun, inaatake mo ang aking ama. Bakit kailangan kwestyonin ng isang miyembro ng kapulungang ito ang aking talumpati?,” Erice added.

(No, that is not it. He told me, you are attacking my father. Why would a House member question my speech?) 
GMA News Online has reached out to Rep. Marcos over Erice’s statements and will publish his reply as soon as it is available. 

Meanwhile, Libanan denied he was pressured to remove Erice.

"I told the distinguished congressmen Erice that I think you see this coming, that we might replace the senior deputy minority leader.  This means that my alter in plenary has been having a hard time performing his duty," Libanan said.

"We did not replace the senior deputy minority leader because there was pressure from above," he added.

Deputy Speaker Janette Garin took exception to Erice's claims.

"Will the minority bloc allow itself to be dictated? Let us put decorum in this House.  Let us not accuse the majority of meddling. Do not drag us into the problem of your election of officers," Garin said.

Erice said it was a known fact that the majority always has a hand on who would sit at the helm of the minority bloc.

"They know that. Impossible (to be not aware), they've been House members for many years. It's hypocrisy if they say they don't know the system," he added. —LDF, GMA Integrated News