Race for post of House minority leader heats up

The fight for the post of minority leader in the House of Representatives is heating up, with three candidates leading the pack.

Battling it out are Sorsogon Rep. Francis Escudero of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), Negros Oriental Rep. Jacinto Paras of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino and San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora of the LDP-Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino.

Escudero, former campaign spokesman of Fernando Poe Jr., was one of the vocal defenders of the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP) standard bearer in the canvassing of votes in Congress last month.

Escudero said he is backed by "stragglers" from the NPC, LDP, the Partido ng Masang Pilipino, KNP and party-list representatives, or a total of at least 20 congressmen.

He will remain with the NPC. which belongs to the majority, "until further developments," he added.

Escudero said he was offered the post of deputy majority leader, which he held in the last Congress, but he turned it down. "I believe I have the respect of my colleagues from both sides," he said.

"The opposition bloc (in the House) must be credible, level-headed and not hysterical." He has the backing of Poe and ousted President Joseph Estrada, who heads the PMP, he added. About 30 opposition lawmakers seat in the House.

Paras was considered a "renegade member" of the pro-administration Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats before joining the LDP early this month.

Also one of Poe’s staunchest supporters in the House, particularly during the canvassing, Paras reportedly has the support of LDP chairman Sen. Edgardo Angara.

"We just hope so (being elected minority leader)," he said in a telephone interview. "Some are interested to be the minority leader but I don’t think they have the numbers."

Paras said he has the support of 14 LDP congressmen and eight from "different groups and persuasions," or a total of 22 opposition members.

Paras also believes the opposition should not be obstructionist, and vowed that administration proposals would be scrutinized.

Zamora reportedly enjoys the support of at least 10 opposition lawmakers, as well as Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. Zamora, one of the legal luminaries in the House, is expected to pull a surprise in the race for the minority leadership. The minority leader is chosen at the same time that the Speaker is elected.

Traditionally, the opposition fields a candidate to "challenge" the Speaker and the candidate who gets the second highest number of votes automatically becomes the minority leader.

Meanwhile, 14 pro-administration congressmen, mostly from Central Visayas, are lobbying to get Negros Oriental Rep. Herminio Teves named chairman of the powerful House ways and means committee.

The committee screens tax and other revenue-related bills.

"Congressman Teves deserves to be ways and means committee chairman," the lawmakers said in a statement.

"His qualifications are unmatched by any other candidate. He has demonstrated much-needed leadership, expertise and diligence in dealing with revenue-related concerns.

"We are convinced Congressman Teves is in the best position to help the President quickly achieve a balanced budget and carve a legacy that would distinguish her from previous chief executives."

Supporting Teves are Cebu Representatives Eduardo Guillas, Antonio Cuenco, Simeon Kintanar, Clavel Martinez, Nerissa Soon-Ruiz, Jose Durano, Antonio Yapha Jr. and Raul del Mar; Bohol Representatives Edgar Chatto, Eladio Jala, and Roberto Cajes; Siquijor Rep. Orlando Fua Jr,; and party-list Representatives Emerito Calderon and Sunny Rose Madamba.