MANILA, Philippines - Rep. Walden Bello of the party-list group Akbayan is giving up his seat in the House of Representatives over his dismay with President Aquino.
He told reporters yesterday that he has given notice to Akbayan that he would resign as one of its two representatives, but that he would remain as a party member.
“I am withdrawing support from the President because I can no longer support a President who is washing his hands of responsibility of a mission he planned and executed,” he said, referring to the Jan. 25 police operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.
“I am withdrawing support because I can no longer support a President engaged in brazen cover-up of his role in the Mamasapano tragedy,” he said.
Bello was scheduled to deliver a privilege speech yesterday afternoon to repeat his accusations against Aquino.
“As far as my future in Congress (is concerned), I think our code of conduct as a party is that I cannot continue to represent an organization with which I have major policy disagreements, such as on the question of support for the administration. So I have given notice of my intention to resign as Akbayan representative, though I will remain in the party,” he said.
Malacañang tried to keep its distance from the reported withdrawal of Bello’s support for President Aquino, noting that no less than Akbayan itself has disowned the lawmaker who had since been very critical of the Chief Executive.
“Rep. Bello’s decision to withdraw is his own. My understanding is that Akbayan issued a statement that Rep. Bello’s statements are not that of Akbayan,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a text message to Palace reporters.
Sought for comment on Bello’s resignation plan, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said in a text message, “Good for him and the House.”
Though he represents a pro-administration party-list group, Bello has occasionally taken potshots at Aquino.
Apparently piqued by the broadsides, the President once told his supposed ally to seek the presidency instead of telling him how to run the country.
The other Akbayan representative, Ibarra Gutierrez, said their party would have to decide on Bello’s resignation and nominate a replacement.
“He has expressed on several occasions since last year, and even before the Mamasapano tragedy, his intent to withdraw as one of our representatives due to diverging views on how to pursue reforms in the Aquino government. I personally feel very strongly that he should stay and I think the party leadership shares this statement. But just the same, his expressed desire will undergo the appropriate party processes,” he said.
Aquino has generously rewarded Akbayan for its loyalty to his administration.
Former Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros was one of Aquino’s senatorial candidates in 2010 and 2013, but she lost.
Chairman Loretta Ann Rosales of the Commission on Human Rights, Aquino’s political adviser Ronald Llamas and Mario Aguja, who sits in the board of Government Service Insurance System, are among Akbayan members with plum posts in the Aquino administration.
Belmonte said he respected Bello’s decision and maintained the pro-administration coalition in the House remains intact. – With Paolo Romero, Delon Porcalla, Mayen Jaymalin, Non Alquitran, Marvin Sy, Christina Mendez