Zarate: House Minority Leader should come from genuine opposition

MANILA, Philippines — Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate opposed Wednesday the possible minority leadership bid of former Majority Leader and Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro, saying the Minority Leader should come from the genuine opposition.

“Mahirap namang hawak na nga nila ang leadership ng Congress ay pati minority leadership ay kukunin pa nila. Hindi uubra ang isang ‘company union’ sa Kongreso ngayon lalo pa at Cha-cha (Charter change) ang pangunahing isasalang sa pagbubukas ng 18th Congress,” Zarate, the progressive Makabayan bloc’s House Speaker bet, said in a statement.

(It’s not right that they’ll get both leadership in Congress and the minority leadership. A ‘company union’ will not work in Congress, especially as Charter Change will be the first agenda at the opening of the 18th Congress.)

“Also, if someone is to be the minority leader he should at least be part of the true minority which opposes the anti-democratic and anti-people policies of the administration,” he added.

It was Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda who hinted Castro’s possible move in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel. He also said the Duterte Coalition’s Speaker bet, Davao 3rd District Rep. Isidro Ungab, may get the chairmanship of the powerful appropriations panel.

READ: Castro, Ungab may land key House positions – Salceda

Castro said he would study this proposal.

READ: Castro seeking guidance on minority leadership bid

Premature

But Zarate said it is “premature” to tackle the minority leadership since the House speaker race is “actually far from over,” despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s endorsement of a term-sharing between Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco.

READ: Duterte pushes for Cayetano-Velasco term-sharing for Speaker 

READ: Duterte ends speakership squabble 

The opposition lawmaker cited the alleged text message from Davao Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio circulating among lawmakers calling for the rejection of the President’s endorsement.

The alleged message coming from a House member close to Sara states: “Hi sir! I have the go signal of Mayor Inday to publish. ‘Kaya nanawagan siya ngayon sa lahat ng mga Congressmen na bumoto ayon sa kanilang kagustuhan dahil ang kanya ama ay na set-up lamang ng mga gahaman na gabinete na kaalyado ni Cayetano.’ — Mayor Inday.”

(She is now calling all Congressmen to vote their own choice because her father was just set up by people in Cabinet allied to Cayetano.)

The Davao mayor denied sending the text message, saying it is a “disinformation” drive. (Editor: Eden Estopace)

READ: ‘Not mine,’ Sara Duterte says of text urging Cayetano’s rejection

RELATED STORIES:
Sara dares solon to reveal source of alleged anti-Cayetano text

Defensor apologizes to Sara for ‘text’ urging rejection of Cayetano