Office of Minority Leader
Edcel C. Lagman
04 January 2012
0916-6406731 / 0918-9120137
LAGMAN CONTINUES AS
HOUSE MINORITY LEADER
Rep. Edcel C. Lagman of Albay remains the House Minority Leader as an absolute majority of the Minority Members want him to continue his “credible and responsible stewardship of the opposition.”
This development forecloses any change in the leadership of the House Minority when the Congress reconvenes on January 16, 2012.
Minority insiders believe that the opposition needs a competent and experienced legal mind like Lagman to continue challenging and combatting the Aquino administration’s propensity to trespass the rule of law, trample on the independence of the judiciary and transgress civil liberties.
Lagman said that the term sharing agreement between him and Rep. Danilo Suarez was limited to the Speakership in the event the then Lakas Kampi took the helm of the House of Representatives as documented and reported by tri-media in July 2010.
The agreement did not extend to the minority leadership because it would have sent defeatist signals from a party fighting for the Speakership, Lagman added.
The Minority Leader from Bicol clarified that the alleged opposition caucus last December 2011 adverted to by Suarez did not decide on a change of leadership and opted not to take a vote due to the absence of many opposition members who were not previously informed of the impromptu meeting and the prevailing consensus not to bring the issue to a vote.
Lagman has also been hailed by his colleagues for asserting and defending the independence of the legislature in the budget process and policy making.
Lagman has been recognized for articulating alternative and critical views on the relevant issues like good governance, human rights, rule of law, agrarian reform, the budget and the economy.
Lagman is the Chairman of Lakas CMD and Vice President of Centrist Democrats International (CDI), a worldwide organization of Christian and Muslim political parties.
Lagman is a six-term Representative and used to chair the Committees on Appropriation, Justice, Agrarian Reform and Overseas Workers Affairs.