Solons jockey for deputy speakership

After the House installed Deputy Speaker Eduardo Gullas (LAMP, Cebu) as its new majority leader Monday night, congressmen began jockeying for the position he vacated.

There are at least three candidates: Representatives Augusto Syjuco Jr. (LAMP, Iloilo), Erico Aumentado (LAMP, Bohol) and Allen Quimpo (LAMP, Aklan).

As soon as it was clear on Monday that Gullas would be elected new majority leader, Syjuco launched his campaign for the position of deputy speaker for the Visayas which the Cebu lawmaker vacated.

The Iloilo congressman claims to have the support of his fellow first-term or neophyte House members.

Syjuco transferred his residence to and won in Iloilo after alternately losing the congressional and mayoral posts in Makati City.

Aumentado, who chairs the House ethics committee, has been endorsed by Gullas, while Quimpo is the recommendee of congressmen belonging to the defunct Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) led by Deputy Majority Leader Bellaflor Angara- Castillo (LAMP, Aurora).

LDP congressmen said Gullas' former post should be given to the party since they have lost the majority leadership, the second most powerful position in the larger chamber of Congress.

Castillo was engaged in a bitter fight for the position of majority leader with Assistant Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II (LAMP, Mandaluyong) before the two of them gave way to Gullas.

Speaker Manuel Villar Jr. chose the Cebuano lawmaker as a compromise candidate to put an end to the Castillo-Gonzales quarrel.

He has scheduled a majority caucus next week to resolve the fight for the deputy speakership.

Gullas took over from Rep. Manuel "Mar" Roxas (LP, Capiz), who has been appointed by President Estrada as his new secretary of trade and industry.

While giving up his post as majority leader, Roxas continues to be a lawmaker until he is confirmed by the Commission on Appointments and takes his oath for his new office.