Lagman goes down swinging

House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman. INQUIRER/JOAN BONDOC

House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman on Tuesday relinquished his post to Quezon Representative Danilo Suarez, but not without a parting shot at former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo whom he has accused of plotting his ouster.

“I cannot continue to associate politically with some opposition members who are closely linked and beholden to the former President so much so that they succumb to the importuning of a patron. I cannot allow the minority to lose its credibility and independence by becoming a mere mouthpiece of the former President,” said Lagman in a speech.

Lagman insisted there was no term-sharing agreement with Suarez.

“What the Suarez manifesto achieved was to indelibly show the hand of the former President,” Lagman said, pointing out that Arroyo’s two legislator sons and appointees were among the notable supporters of Suarez for the minority leader post.

Suarez took the high road and did not speak ill of Lagman in his acceptance speech at the plenary after Lagman yielded.

“Congressman Lagman and I should agree to disagree regarding how this event has played out. The minority bloc will continue its role as a constructive opposition as exemplified by the work of Congressman Lagman being a vigilant fiscalizer of the opposition. We are continuing our invitation for him to be part of the minority bloc [as his] legal and political experience is needed in these challenging times,” said Suarez.

Lagman has resigned from the Lakas-Kampi party and has announced that he would remain an independent. He said he could not go over to the majority bloc because of policy differences.