Abang Lingkod solon elected as new House minority leader

Abang Lingkod party-list Representative Joseph Stephen Paduano has been elected as the new minority leader of the House of Representatives.

The minority bloc confirmed Paduano's election in a statement shared by Marikina City Representative Stella Quimbo with reporters on Monday.

"The [Minority] Bloc welcomes and congratulates the new Minority Leader, Hon. Joseph Stephen "Caraps" Paduano of Abang Lingkod Party-list, who was unanimously elected, with the members looking forward to work with him with the vision that the minority will flourish under his leadership," the statement read.

Paduano takes over the position vacated by Manila Representative Bienvenido Abante Jr., who last week said he was joining the House majority bloc following the change in the leadership at the chamber.

According to the minority bloc, Paduano is a third-term lawmaker who has been a member of the group since the 17th Congress.

He is an advocate for the welfare of farmers and fisherfolk and for the protection of rice and sugar farmers amid the liberalization of agriculture markets, it added.

"With the new leadership under Rep. Paduano, the Minority Bloc is assuring the House and the Filipino people that it will remain loyal to the principles that mould the group in fiscalizing and in providing a potent force to implement check and balance in the House of Representatives," the bloc said.

The Minority Bloc maintained that they will continue to support measures for the people through constructive criticisms, adding that they will not become "obstructionists."

"Rest assured that the Minority Bloc will continue working hard in pushing for laws for the benefit of the Filipino people especially at this time of a pandemic where our lives are being challenged to adjust to a new, better normal," they said.

"Members of the minority bloc may have differences due to party affiliations, convictions, beliefs and even ideologies, but it will always unite with regards to legislations that will redound to the ordinary Filipino," they added.

A total of 21 lawmakers currently compose the minority bloc, which includes the six-member Makabayan Bloc.—AOL, GMA News