Deputy Speaker Fredenil Castro said Sunday those who oppose the recognition of the incumbent minority bloc in the House of Representatives should bring the case to the Supreme Court.
“I think the best thing is to go to the Supreme Court,” Castro said in Filipino on radio dzBB.
“If the Supreme Court decides the question, then nobody will question it. We will immediately abide by what the Supreme Court decides.”
Three groups have been seeking to be recognized as the minority bloc after Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ousted her predecessor, Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez
These include the groups represented by Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, the incumbent minority leader, Marikina City Rep. Miro Quimbo and Alvarez.
In the absence of a proclamation of a new minority bloc, Suarez would be recognized in the meantime, Castro added, noting that the position has not been declared vacant.
The groups opposing Suarez says he cannot be minority leader because he voted for Arroyo as Speaker, and have threatened to take their case to the Supreme Court.
Suarez on Sunday said his attendance at a meeting of the House committee on rules was a sign that his group has been officially recognized as the minority bloc under Arroyo.
“That was the first time that we attended the rules panel meeting to set the plenary legislative agenda under Speaker Arroyo. What else is the indication? It is already clear that we are the recognized minority bloc,” Suarez said.
Other minority bloc members who attended the meeting were Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza, and Deputy Minority Leader and Coop-Natcco Rep. Anthony Bravo.
On Aug. 3, Arroyo vowed not to step into the squabble for the minority leadership among the three contending groups.
Suarez, who voted for Arroyo, maintained he would only give up the minority chairmanship if the Supreme Court ordered him to do so.
“If I feel that I am not in a position anymore to lead the minority, then I will politely vacate my post if the court says so. May be, we can see some [clarity] if the Supreme Court releases a decision on this,” he said.
“Let us get back to work. The House has nine months to go,” he added.