House of Representatives PR
The House of Representatives on Monday stripped Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor and Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte of their committee vice chairmanship posts following their vicious and inappropriate attacks against Speaker Lord Allan Velasco and his leadership.
Along with former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and four other ex-House officials, Defensor and Villafuerte formed what they called an “independent majority bloc” critical of the Velasco leadership.
Deputy Speaker Lito Atienza said the decision to strip Defensor and Villafuerte of committee vice chairmanship was a “direct consequence” of their statements criticizing Velasco, who is the head of the House majority.
Atienza said Defensor and Villafuerte “drew the clear line by their own statements” in their capacity as members of the so-called “BTS sa Kongreso,” which was patterned after a famous Korean boy band.
“The two cannot cry foul especially when they said they’ve lost faith in the present House leadership,” Atienza said.
Atienza said the move of the House majority was “not about vindictiveness or political vendetta.”
“We are just carrying out their decision to bolt from the majority headed by the Speaker, whom they criticized openly,” he pointed out.
Probinsyano Ako Rep. Jose Singson Jr. said Defensor and Villafuerte have no one to blame but themselves for their removal from committee posts.
“They held those positions because they are part of the majority. But after what they did, they clearly drew the line and they have to face the consequence,” Singson, who chairs the Committee on Public Accounts previously held by Defensor.
Singson said Speaker Velasco should be given a leeway in choosing whoever he feels could help him deliver as the leader of the House.
“Tama lamang na bigyan natin ng pagkakataon ang Speaker na pumili ng mga taong tutulong sa kanya, people who can carry out his vision in those positions of authority,” Singson said.
“How can the majority work effectively with that ‘independent majority bloc’ when they are essentially out to criticize Speaker Velasco’s every move?” he asked.
Singson also slammed Defensor for making a big issue out of being replaced, contradicting himself on his earlier statements that he was ready to be removed from his position to give Velasco a free hand to choose whoever he fully trusts.
“Defensor should look back on his previous statements. He then said, and I quote, ‘The Speaker will of course choose among his supporters kung sino ang gusto nyang mapunta dito sa mga komiteng ito. Okay lang naman sa akin,’” Singson said.
He added: “And yet, now, paulit-ulit na lang syang ngumangawa dahil sa pagkakatanggal sa kanya. Masyado talaga syang naging balat-sibuyas.”
Singson said the majority welcomes criticisms, but it could not take Defensor’s malicious statements just sitting down.
“To falsely accuse the majority of being political and do it in a press conference, we can’t help but think that there’s malice in that,” he said.
Deputy Speaker and Pampanga 4th District Rep. Juan Pablo “Rimpy” Bondoc said while Defensor and Villafuerte have been removed of their vice chairmanships, they are still welcome to attend caucuses of the majority and committee hearings as House members.
“We have caucuses with independent House members, one of them is Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman. There’s no reason not to do the same with Congressmen Defensor and Villafuerte, or any members of their bloc,” Bondoc said.
“They are also still free to attend and participate in committee hearings as House members,” he pointed out.
Defensor was removed as vice chair of five House panels, namely, Committees on Health, on Public Information, on Dangerous Drugs, on Good Government and Public Accountability and on Strategic Intelligence.
Villafuerte, on the other hand, was removed as vice chair of the Committee on Public Accounts.
