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        The Minority bloc in the House of Representatives could avoid a divisive confrontation on Monday by the simple expedient of Rep. Danilo Suarez producing an absolute majority of 15 opposition members endorsing him to replace Minority Leader Edcel C. Lagman.

 

        If Suarez fails to secure the requisite number of signatories, Lagman remains the Minority Leader.

 

        In fact, it is Lagman who holds a resolution entitled “To Maintain Rep. Edcel C. Lagman as Minority Leader” signed by an absolute majority of Minority members who want him to continue heading the opposition and have vowed to remain steadfast in supporting him.

 

        Suarez was unsuccessful in his attempt yesterday afternoon to get the endorsement of his minority colleagues.

 

        Reliable sources reported that aside from Suarez, only six minority Representatives attended the caucus hosted by Suarez at the Manila Golf and Country Club.

 

        There is no term-sharing for the Minority leadership because none was forged. The splitting arrangement was limited to the speakership.

 

        It is recalled that Lagman willingly abided by a term-sharing agreement when there was actually one.  He turned over the Chairmanship of the powerful Committee on Appropriations in the 14^th Congress to Rep. Junie Cua despite the fact that Speaker Jose de Venecia, who arranged the term-sharing, was not anymore the incumbent.