Even with the obvious absence of a quorum, the chamber railroaded the approval of the nomination of Solis as replacement for Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez, who quit as defense committee chairman in August when he decided to join the mounting calls for President Arroyo’s resignation.
Golez made the decision at the height of the "Hello, Garci" inquiry by five committees, including the defense panel.
After Solis’ nomination was railroaded, Palawan Rep. Abraham Mitra, who belongs to the Liberal Party, raised a howl of protest on behalf of LP colleague Rep. Rozzano Rufino Biazon of Muntinlupa City.
"If we follow tradition, Rep. Biazon should have been the one nominated for the defense committee chairmanship as he is the senior vice chairman," Mitra told his colleagues.
He asked the presiding officer, Deputy Speaker Raul del Mar, and Deputy Majority Leader Arthur Defensor, what basis was used for giving the chairmanship to Solis, who belongs to the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi).
"The nomination of committee chairmen is the exclusive prerogative of the majority leader (Prospero Nograles). And since he is not here, may the gentleman from Palawan postpone his inquiry for Monday next week," Del Mar responded.
Mitra insisted on his query but received no answer. What the House leaders did not tell him was that the Solis appointment was obviously a concession to Kampi, which has entered into an alliance with Lakas to push the renewed Cha-cha (Charter change) initiative.
The Palawan congressman later questioned the validity of the Solis nomination, saying not enough warm bodies were present in the session hall when the House approved it.
But Defensor told him that "since no one questioned the quorum before the chamber voted on the nomination, it is presumed there was quorum and the nomination was validly approved."
"Even the Supreme Court, if this matter is brought to it, cannot inquire whether there was quorum or there was no quorum," he said.
Before tempers could flare further and Solis’ appointment could be reconsidered, Rep. Felix Alfelor Jr. of Camarines Sur, a Kampi party mate of Solis, questioned the quorum, prompting Del Mar to immediately adjourn the session.