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IF the
forces against Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. are to be
believed, the Pangasinan legislator’s head will be on
the chopping board on Monday.
On
Thursday, Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino Rep. Luis
Villafuerte of Camarines Sur claimed that at least 134
of the 240 members of the House of Representatives have
signed the manifesto declaring loss of confidence on the
leadership of de Venecia.
“There
are 240 members of the House, Fifty percent plus one is
121 ang sa amin 134 and it is going to increase
further. Even as of now nagpipirmahan pa,”
Villafuerte told the BusinessMirror.
“What
remains to be done is this. The Speaker announced that
in accordance with the parliamentary practice when there
is a proposal for a change of leadership either in the
Senate or in the House...the practice in the Senate is
that once 13 votes are already obtained by resolution or
signature, the Senate president steps down immediately.
Wala ng mga laban-laban. Sa House it never happened
but the Speaker announced about 10 days ago that if
anyone ‘can present to me 121 signatures, I will step
down in accordance with the Senate [practice].’Ewan
ko kung nagyayabang,” Villafuerte added.
He said
that on Monday, before the session, he will talk to de
Venecia and will ask him what he wants and for
gentlemanly exit.
“I will
ask him ano ba ang gusto mo? Orderly [exit] like
gentlemen? Sabi niya he is an advocate of the
parliamentary system government eh sa
parliamentary system basta vote of no confidence
give up kaagad. Now if he refuses to give in,
tutuluyan namin siya. Its’ going to be a big dirty
fight…so many people will explain their vote.”
Villafuerte said that de Venecia should step down or
face the humiliation of defeat.
Sources
said that de Venecia is keen on putting up one last
stand on Monday by proposing nominal voting in the hope
that majority of the lawmakers could change their mind
at the last minute.
This was
confirmed by de Venecia, contending that he still has
the numbers.
In a
statement, de Venecia said to prove that he has the
upper hand, those in the majority coalition that rallied
to him will call a floor vote next Monday to prove it.
“We
still have the numbers. They don’t have the numbers. In
fact they [those challenging him] are under the gun.
They are pressured to produce 121 warm bodies on
Monday,” de Venecia said.
“We
expect a floor fight,” de Venecia said, and warned his
detractors, “don’t push us around.”
He said
the floor vote will reveal once and for all that those
in the Majority Coalition that have remained loyal to de
Venecia are “a force of stability, an instrument for
national unity, and a leader in reform legislation.”
On
Wednesday, as talks of the ouster of de Venecia spread
like wildfire, the session was adjourned early after
Lakas Rep. Bienvenido Abante of Manila, one of the
staunch allies of de Venecia delivered a privileged
speech denouncing the ouster plot.
As
members of the so-called “Reform Bloc” were gearing to
interpellate Abante, another de Venecia ally Lakas Rep.
Jannete Garin of Iloilo moved for the adjournment of the
session. |
