Quimbo-led House bloc questions Suarez’s minority leadership at SC

Congressman Miro Quimbo. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Marikina 2nd District Rep. Romero “Miro” Quimbo’s group brought their claim as the “legitimate House minority bloc” to the Supreme Court (SC) on Friday.

Quimbo said their Petition for Certiorari, Prohibition, and Mandamus seeks to assail the recognition of Quezon 3rd District Rep. Danilo Suarez as Minority Leader of the lower chamber.

The opposition lawmaker said this is contrary to House rules, and the ruling of the SC in the case of Baguilat versus Alvarez. 

The petition also seeks the high tribunal’s imprimatur to direct the House leadership to recognize Quimbo as Minority Leader.

“We vowed that we would take this matter all the way up to the Supreme Court, and that is precisely what we have done,” the Liberal Party (LP) lawmaker said in a statement.

“Judging from the previous case of Baguilat v. Alvarez which also dealt with the issue of House Minority leadership, it is likely this case will take months to resolve, possibly close to the end of our current terms. Nonetheless, we are committed to pursuing this if only to ensure that our institutions remain bound by law and logic,” Quimbo added.

The Quimbo-led bloc has cited Section 8, Rule II of the Rules of the House, which states that “House members who vote for a winning candidate for House Speaker constitute the Majority in the House.”

They also cited the decision of the SC in the case of Baguilat et al. v. Alvarez et al. (G.R. No. 227757, 25 July 2017), which affirmed that those who vote for losing candidates for Speaker and those who abstain from voting constitute the Minority.

In the aftermath of the election of Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last July 23, a struggle for the House minority leadership erupted among the Quimbo-led “People’s Minority,” the Suarez-led bloc — which was the minority group during the time of then-Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, and the group led by Alvarez and former Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas.

Fariñas has insisted that ABS Rep. Eugene Michael De Vera should be the Minority Leader. His bloc has also questioned Suarez’s minority leadership before the SC.

READ: Fariñas, allies challenge before SC validity of Suarez minority leadership

Quimbo believes they have an “airtight case,” adding they have functioned as the legitimate check and balance in the lower chamber dominated by administration allies.

“It was very clear to any impartial observer that it took a monumental feat of mental gymnastics to justify the recognition of Rep. Suarez as Minority Leader despite simple and unambiguous House Rules,” Quimbo said.

“Even deprived of an official title we have functioned as the legitimate check and balance in the House,” he added.

From the initial 15 lawmakers who abstained and voted against the election of Arroyo as Speaker, Quimbo said membership in their group has since swelled to 26. 

It’s members include: 

— LP Reps. Francis Gerald Abaya, Vincent Alcala, Isagani Amatong, Kaka Bag-ao, Teddy Brawner Baguilat, Jorge “Bolet” Banal, Jose Christopher “Kit” Belmonte, Emmanuel Billiones, Gabriel Bordado Jr., Raul Daza, Edgar Erice, Edcel Lagman, Jocelyn Sy Limkaichong, Romero “Miro” Quimbo, and Josephine “Nene” Ramirez-Sato; 

— Makabayan bloc Reps. Arlene Brosas, Ariel “Ka Ayik” Casilao, France Castro, Emmi De Jesus, Sarah Jane Elago, Antonio Tinio, and Carlos Isagani Zarate; and

— Akbayan Rep. Tomasito Villarin; Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano; and Anak Mindanao Reps. Amihilda Sangcopan and Makmod Mending Jr.  /kga