The leadership of the House of Representatives on Monday night dropped from the roll of members ABS party-list Rep. Eugene de Vera, barely two months after being assured that he is secured in his post.
De Vera decried the move as both “very illegal and unconstitutional,” pointing out that under the 1987 Constitution, it is only the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal that has the authority to remove him as congressman.
He vowed to question the House action before the Supreme Court.
In a manifestation on the floor, House Majority Leader and Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya said the chamber has received Comelec En Banc Resolution 18-0842 on its action on the ABS board resolution removing De Vera and appointing Ulysess G. Garces as his replacement in the House.
Andaya said the resolution “states pertinently” that it is within the House’s jurisdiction to act on the ABS partylist board resolution.
According to Andaya, Director Maria Norma S. Tangaro-Casingal of the Comelec Law Department has informed the House leadership that ABS partylist won in the May 9, 2016 elections and entitled occupy one seat in the House.
“In view of the foregoing, may I request that the Secretary General be instructed to drop form the roll of members of the House of Representatives Rep. Eugene Michael B. de Vera and allow the nominee-next-in-line of the party-list, the Honorable Ulysses G. Garces, to take his oath as member of the House of Representatives of the party-list,” Andaya declared on the floor.
House Deputy Speaker and Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay, who was presiding over the session, immediately acknowledged the manifestation and instructed the secretary general to comply.
This was the second attempt by the House leadership to remove De Vera as House member.
Last October, a bid to oust him was dropped when House Speaker Gloria M. Arroyo met with leaders of the House Partylist Coalition headed by Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe and reportedly agreed to act only on the ouster of a sitting member upon a final and executory decision of the HRET. (Ben R. Rosario)
