Gullas will be House majority leader

Deputy Speaker Eduardo Gullas (LAMP, Cebu) will be the new House majority leader, Speaker Manuel Villar Jr. announced yesterday.

In a radio interview, Villar said Gullas will be elected to succeed Majority Leader Manuel "Mar" Roxas III (LP, Capiz) once the latter quits his post.

Villar said the Cebu lawmaker "is hardworking and acceptable to all."

The majority floor leadership is considered the second most powerful post in the larger chamber of Congress.

Roxas has been named by President Estrada as the new secretary of trade and industry. He has delayed his oath-taking until he is confirmed by the Commission on Appointments.

Villar said Representatives Neptali Gonzales II (LAMP, Mandaluyong City) and Bellaflor Angara-Castillo (LAMP, Aurora), both assistants of Roxas, have given way to Gullas.

Gonzales and Castillo were bitterly fighting to succeed their majority leader. However, last Tuesday, the Mandaluyong congressman withdrew from the race to "preserve the unity of the House."

Rep. Carlos Padilla (LAMP, Nueva Vizcaya) confirmed that Castillo has also given way to Gullas.

He said the decision was arrived at during a meeting Thursday night of House members belonging to the defunct Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP).

The meeting was attended by Agriculture Secretary Edgardo Angara, Castillo's brother and former LDP president.

Padilla said their group will nominate Rep. Allen Quimpo (LAMP, Aklan) to be Gullas' successor as deputy speaker for the Visayas.

Roxas has not been attending to his job as majority leader apparently out of delicadeza.

Several of his colleagues have urged him to quit his post so that his successor can be elected.