Minority Floor Leader Rep. Benny Abante. INQUIRER.net file photo / Noy Morcoso
MANILA, Philippines – House of Representatives Minority Leader and Manila 6th Dist. Rep. Bienvenido Abante on Thursday said he is willing to yield his post to former speaker Alan Peter Cayetano.
In an interview with reporters, Abante was asked about the possibility of Cayetano joining the minority bloc following the recent election of Marinduque Rep. Lord Alan Velasco as the new speaker.
“Of course, we welcome him on that and sa akin, if he is willing to get the minority leader position, I would be very glad to give that to him,” Abante said.
Abante, however, does not believe that Cayetano would be interested in the post especially following his stint as House speaker.
“If he wants to be the minority leader, we’ll talk about it. Pero alam mo palagay ko, I don’t think he will get that,” Abante said.
“From being the Speaker of the House, he would like to be the minority [leader]. I have not yet heard any statement concerning that actually,” he added.
Abante said that under the rules of the House, those who did not vote for the elected Speaker can join the minority bloc.
“Kung di nila binoto ang Speaker, then they would have the right to be in the minority. Kapag nangyari yan, siguro magmi-meeting kami to be able to choose who will be the minority leader,” Abante said.
“If they still want me to be the minority leader, I would want to still be the minority leader. I’ll cross the bridge when we get there. Hindi ko pa alam kasi ngayon talaga we’re just busy trying to finish the budget,” he added.
The minority leader, however, clarified that a change in leadership in the minority bloc was not among those discussed amid the speakership row between Cayetano and Velasco.
On Monday, 186 lawmakers ousted Cayetano from the speakership and elected Velasco as the new leader of the lower chamber of Congress.
Majority of the legislators ratified Velasco’s electionthe following day leading to Cayetano’s resignation as speaker.