Suarez ‘hurt’ that De Vera abandoned their minority bloc

Quezon 3rd District Rep. Danilo Suarez on Wednesday admitted that he was hurt that ABS Rep. Eugene De Vera abandoned their group and claimed to be the new minority leader of the House of Representatives.

“Masakit ‘yun, kasamahan namin tapos iniwanan kami. Wala naman kami magagawa dun,” Suarez said in a press conference.

De Vera was a deputy minority leader of Suarez’s minority group before the leadership change and minority leadership squabble occurred in the lower chamber.

Suarez said they have to remove De Vera from their bloc now. He added that they now have 21 members, while five other lawmakers have expressed their intent to apply.

It was Former Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas who said De Vera should be the new minority leader because the latter abstained in the voting for the Speaker. Fariñas also asserted that Suarez can’t be minority leader because he voted for Arroyo.

READ: Fariñas: De Vera should be acting minority leader

A letter released by Fariñas on Tuesday also showed that De Vera accepted Fariñas’ group in the minority.

LOOK: Ilocos Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas bares letter showing Rep. Michale De Vera accepted their application to the minority bloc. READ: https://t.co/5F7nLb5fy2 pic.twitter.com/N1jetwCUq0

— Path Roxas (@PathRoxasINQ) July 31, 2018

Under Rule II Section 8 of the House rules, “Members who vote for the winning candidate for Speaker shall constitute the Majority in the House.”

But Suarez’s group maintained that the minority leadership position had not been declared as vacant in the first place; thus, there’s no need to elect a new minority leader.

Aside from Suarez, Marikina 2nd District Rep. Romero Quimbo, a Liberal Party member, is also claiming to be the rightful leader of the minority bloc. /je

READ: House squabble shifts to minority leader position