Lagman quits as House opposition leader, Lakas chair

(Updated 9:23 p.m.) Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman on Thursday resigned as House minority leader and chairperson of the opposition Lakas-Kampi-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) party.

 

“I will be an independent and will fiscalize the Aquino administration and continue to advocate progressive and alternative agenda,” Lagman said in a statement.

 

He said that he quit “to give way to former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s anointed one,” apparently referring to Deputy Minority Speaker Danilo Suarez.

 

“I cannot continue serving a political aggrupation which deliberately refuses to recognize competent, militant and responsible leadership and would opt to follow blindly the importuning of former President Arroyo,” he said. In an interview on GMA News TV, Lagman said he resigned to put a stop on the "creeping signature campaign" against him.

 

Suarez has been contesting Lagman’s leadership of the opposition citing a term-sharing agreement in 2010. Asked if he thinks he is being ganged up by other opposition lawmakers, Lagman said: "Yes, that's obvious. Very obvious." "Tignan mo nga kung sino 'yung mga pumirma doon sa manifesto. 'Yung dalawang anak ni dating Presidente, si Dato [Arroyo] at Mikey Arroyo, 'yung dati niyang mga Gabinete kaparis ni Cong. Nasser Pangandaman at si dating TESDA administrator na si Augusto Syjuco, at si Caraga Region Rep. Jose Aquino, at 'yung dating chairman energy regulation commission Cong. Rodolfo Albano," he said. Lagman also accused Mrs. Arroyo of having a hand in the moves to oust him from the opposition. "All of these plan to oust me was finalized in the hospital suite of the former President at Veterans Hospital."

 

Mrs. Arroyo, who is on hospital arrest at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City facing electoral sabotage charges, currently sits as Lakas-Kampi-CMD’s president emeritus while Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. sits as Lakas president.  — with Amanda Fernandez/RSJ/KBK, GMA News