Alvarez unsure of LP’s role

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

President Rodrigo Duterte’s top allies in the House of Representatives appear to be in a quandary over whether the Liberal Party (LP) should remain in the supermajority now that Vice President Leni Robredo has emerged as the new opposition leader.

“I don’t know with them,” Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said in a text message to the Inquirer when asked if the LP ought to remain in the ruling coalition after Robredo expressed her intention to unify the opposition.

“[Robredo] as the leader of the Liberal Party has every right to unite the opposition,” said the House leader, a bosom buddy of Mr. Duterte.

Asked the same question, Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas said: “I guess you should ask them (LP).”

Fariñas, however, said there was no need to conduct a loyalty check among LP members belonging to the supermajority in the 293-seat chamber.

“I was invited to, and attended, the LP Christmas party the other day (on Wednesday). SB (former Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.), VP Leni and almost all House LP members were there but nobody mentioned about being in the opposition,” Fariñas said.

The LP has split into two groups in the House.