Quimbo’s Liberal Party-led group true House minority—Solon

Law and parliamentary tradition boost the claim of the group of congressmen led by Marikina City Rep. Miro Quimbo as the true minority in the House, according to Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin.

“Representative Quimbo’s claim for minority leader is based on explicit wordings of House rules, cemented by jurisprudence, and hardened by the fire of tradition,” Villarin, a member of the Quimbo’s Liberal Party-led bloc, said on Friday.

Villarin issued the statement following the election of ABS party-list Rep. Eugene de Vera as “minority leader” by 12 other lawmakers, including former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

The recognized minority leader, Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, has refused to step down. He and his allies, many of whom voted for new Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, said they would remain in the minority since only the speakership was declared vacant during the voting last week that led to Alvarez’s ouster. —JEROME ANING