It’s final: Abad vs JDV for Speaker

It’s final: Batanes Rep. Florencio Abad will run against Pangasinan Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr. for the position of Speaker when Congress convenes on July 23.

Abad, who is Liberal Party (LP) president, told radio station dzBB yesterday that he and his supporters decided on Wednesday night that they would not back out of the speakership fight.

"Tuloy ang aking kandidatura (I will continue with my candidacy)," he said.

Apparently expecting defeat, he said he would cooperate with the De Venecia group in pushing for meaningful legislation even if he and his supporters would be in the minority or opposition.

"Maski naman siguro nandoon kami sa minority, hindi naman ibig sabihin niyan na hindi kami puedeng magtulu-ngan (Even if we are in the minority, that would not mean that we can’t cooperate with each other)," Abad said.

Based on tradition, those who vote for the winning Speaker belong to the majority and those who go against him are lumped with the minority. The majority is usually composed of pro-administration congressmen, while the minority is normally regarded as the opposition.

Abad is counting on the votes of his LP group and the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino bloc led by Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Carlos Padilla, although at least three LP and two LDP members have already defected to De Venecia’s side.

If the Batanes congressman becomes minority leader, Padilla is expected to be his deputy.

Interviewed by the same station, De Venecia said his camp continues to reach out to Abad and his supporters.

"We are reaching out to him continuously. We have not been successful so far. But hope springs eternal, for as long as we have sincerity and humility," he said.

De Venecia, a former Speaker claimed that he has the support of at least 181 House members to return to the post he held for six years during the Ramos administration. A candidate needs only 113 votes to win.

De Venecia’s side has been relentlessly trying to woo Abad and his group with various offers to support the former Speaker.

According to Rep. Joey Salceda, De Venecia’s chief strategist, the latest offer is for the Batanes lawmaker to head the House contingent in the powerful Commission on Appointments and for his group to have at least seven committees.

The head of the House contingent is usually elected vice chairman of the appointments commission, the body that has the power of life or death over Cabinet appointments and major promotions in the Armed Forces and the diplomatic service.

Actually, Abad’s LP is entitled to at least one seat in the commission but not the chairmanship of the House team.

For its part, Malacañang had brokered two "win-win" formulas to settle the differences between the groups, but none was acceptable to Abad.

In a related development, controversial Manila Rep. Mark Jimenez said he will support De Venecia in his bid for the speakership.

"At this time, I am inclined to support Congressman De Venecia because he has the experience. You see, I believe experience is one of the most important assets of a leader," Jimenez told reporters over lunch yesterday in a Manila restaurant.

Jimenenez, who is fighting off extradition to the US, admitted that two factions within the PPC have contacted him to solicit his support.

While he said he does not want to interfere in the race for the chairmanship of some "juicy" committees, he said he would welcome whatever would be given to him. However, he said he would prefer if the committee involves the economy. — With Delon Porcalla