Remaining Cabinet men solidly behind Estrada – Speaker

Speaker Arnulfo Fuentebella said yesterday the remaining members of the Cabinet, leaders of Congress and local officials are solidly behind their embattled boss, President Estrada.

He said the full-force attendance of members of the Cabinet in a dialogue he called last Wednesday, and in which they agreed on a common legislative agenda, showed that these officials are sticking it out with the President.

"The administration is as strong as ever and remains in control of the country’s political and economic situation," Fuentebella said.

He said he believed there would be no more desertions from the Cabinet.

Four Cabinet members have so far resigned in the wake of the jueteng scandal involving Mr. Estrada – Vice President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as secretary of social welfare and development, Mar Roxas as secretary of trade and industry, Angelito Banayo as political affairs adviser, and Filemon Uriarte as secretary of science and technology.

Banayo has reportedly returned to his post at Malacañang. Uriarte is resigning for personal reasons, but has been prevailed to stay on until the end of the year.

Fuentebella said the President, who is facing an impeachment trial for four major charges, including bribery and corruption, will weather the crisis he is now going through.

"I am confident he will come out of this crisis with his head up high and eventually earn the respect of his political adversaries. He will not let down the Filipino people," he said.

Congressmen prosecuting Mr. Estrada have vowed to present strong evidence that would lead to his conviction. Other opposition leaders said the President, even if he is acquitted, would come out of the crisis so politically bruised that he would no longer be capable of governing the nation.

In their dialogue last Wednesday, House leaders and Cabinet members agreed to give priority to the approval of the 2001 budget, the controversial power restructuring bill of which Fuentebella was the principal sponsor when he was energy committee chairman, amendments to the Central Bank Act and the Dangerous Drugs Act, and the proposed increase in the amount of insured bank deposits.

Critics of the new Speaker expressed doubts on whether the House could pass all these measures.

"I think we can only approve the budget and one or two other non-controversial measures. We have only 18 session days left this month and in January before we adjourn for the election campaign on Feb. 8," said one disgruntled member of Fuentebella’s majority bloc.

"That is assuming we have a quorum whenever we tackle important bills. As you have noticed, it’s back to normal here – the session hall is half-empty," he said.

He confirmed the earlier statement of Rep. Carlos Padilla (LDP, Nueva Vizcaya), who belongs to the minority, that many members of the majority are complaining because they have been left out in committee assignments.

These members are now talking to the minority. Their defection to the opposition could tilt the balance of power in the House, said the source.– Jess Diaz