THE leadership of new House Speaker Prospero Nograles appears
to be held hostage by President Arroyo’s Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi)
party with a member warning of another round of ouster campaign if their demand
for a reorganization is not met.
"Baka magaya siya kay (ousted Speaker Jose) de Venecia,"
Sorsogon Rep. Jose Solis told the Rembrandt hotel news forum in Quezon City
Friday.
Solis said they are giving Nograles until Tuesday to
implement their call for wide-ranging "reforms" wich, among others, include a
revamp of committee leaderships and memberships. He lamented that the House is
still being run by De Venecia’s lackeys more than two weeks after the former
Speaker was unseated. "Now, where are the reforms?" he said.
Solis said that it would be the reform bloc – composed of
members of various political parties and headed by Kampi president Luis
Villafuerte of Camarines Sur – that would constitute the majority in case
another challenge to the speakership is posed.
Nograles dismissed Solis’ threat, advising the Bicolano
congressman to keep his cool and watch his blood pressure. "There’s no need to
get mad or threaten me. That won’t work. But since it’s a free country he is
certainly entitled to my personal respect and his own opinion," he said.
Kampi, formed in 1998 by then senator Gloria Arroyo, was
instrumental in ousting De Venecia whose political ties with the President were
frayed by differences over the anomalous $329 million national broadband network
deal with China’s ZTE Corp. The signature campaign against De Venecia was
spearheaded by Villafuerte and Rep. Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo.
The ruckus about Kampi’s alleged demand for political payoff
started two weeks ago when Solis and Rep. Antonio Diaz of Zambales asked the new
Speaker to reorganize the House during the plenary session.
Solis reportedly wants to reclaim his chairmanship of the
national defense panel now held by Kampi Rep. Arthur Celeste of Pangasinan while
Villafuerte is said to be eyeing a seat in the powerful Commission on
Appointments or the chairmanship of the legislative franchises committee now
held by Rep. Ferjenel Biron.
Villafuerte, however, denied that Kampi is plotting to
"hostage" Nograles’ leadership. "Wala naman, hindi naman. Maybe, (Solis) only
wants this to be done in a more speedy manner, expedite the reforms," he said.
He also ruled out the possibility of running for Speaker in case Kampi rocks the
boat once more. "I don’t want to participate (in that)," he said. He also denied
that Kampi is seeking any political payoff from Nograles. He said the new
Speaker has the prerogative to choose the leaders of select committees based on
House tradition. "It’s his call," he said.
Villafuerte, however, could not confirm or deny the reported
appointment of Kampi secretary general Reggie Velasco as head of the office for
media affairs. Sources earlier said the office of the deputy secretary general,
formerly held by De Venecia spokesman Noel Albano, might be downgraded to an
office for media affairs to be run by Velasco. The same sources said the
election of Marilyn Yap, former deputy executive director of the committee on
rules, as House secretary general was another proof of Kampi’s influence on
Nograles.
Yap was former chief of staff to Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano
who is now chair of the Energy Regulatory Commission. Albano’s son Rep. Rodolfo
Albano III is a member of Kampi.
Villafuerte said it is only fair to give Nograles the chance
to prove himself by gradually putting in place the needed reforms which is now
being handled by a team composed of Reps. Kahlil Abraham Mitra (NPC), Florencio
Noel (An Waray); Rodolfo Cajes (Lakas); Joseph Emilio Abaya (LP) and deputy
majority leader Jesus Crispin Remulla (Lakas).
He said Nograles has asked the majority to give him until March 10 to
implement the reform initiatives. "Let’s be patient. Let’s wait for the proper
recommendations," he said. – Wendell Vigilia
