Clamor for secret balloting in Speakership race gains ground

07/12/2007

The clamor for secret balloting in the election of the Speaker of the House of Representatives is reportedly gaining ground as another candidate for the chamber’s top post joined the call originally proposed by Rep. Arnulfo Fuentebella.

Rep. Mary Ann Susano of Quezon City, who had earlier announced she is also tossing her hat in the Speakership race, joined the growing ranks of lawmakers who earlier issued an open letter urging their colleagues to pressure Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. to heed the call for secret balloting in determining the next Speaker.

In their open letter, the congressmen underscored the need for secret balloting, saying it is the most democratic procedure in the conduct of elections as the voter is assured full freedom to make his decision, free from outside pressure and interference.

“We appeal to members of the political opposition to join us in our call for secret balloting for all leadership positions in the House of Representatives,” the lawmakers said in their open letter.

Citing that De Venecia himself “has claimed to champion and promote the democratic process not only in the Lower House of our legislature, but also throughout the world in various parliamentary conferences,” they urged the Speaker not to turn a deaf ear to their clamor.

They added if De Venecia is indeed truthful in his claim, that he already has the majority of the members of the House in the contest for the Speakership, “then with more reason should he accede to the holding of the election in the House by secret ballot.”

This, according to the congressmen, would indicate that De Venecia is indeed confident that he would win his bid for a fifth term as Speaker.

In the past Congresses, as Rep. Carlos Padilla of Nueva Vizcaya noted, the House has been slow and ineffective in responding to the needs of the people requiring legislation.

“This is due to the lack of good leadership in the House which would have channeled the minds and energies of the legislators to the pursuit of the common good,” Padilla said.

The lawmakers also urged the freshmen and reelected congressmen “who sincerely desire to serve the people unselfishly and fully want reforms in the House, such as transparency and accountability in the use of House funds, assignment of committee chairmanships and other positions based on merit and fitness and equal distribution of rights and privileges regardless of political and personal considerations,” to join the snowballing call for chamber change.

As July 20 is the closest working day prior to the opening of Congress on Monday, July 23, the 83 congressmen said they expect all their colleagues to be in Metro Manila on that date.

Among their proposals, their stand on the minority leadership issue is most appealing to the opposition which had been firm on their position that only the legitimate opposition should be allowed to take the post of the House minority leadership.

Among the signatories were Representatives Luis Villafuerte, Amado Bagatsing, Danilo Suarez, Antonio Cerilles, Aurelio Gonzales Jr., Edgar San Luis, Nerissa soon-Ruiz, Mary Ann Hoffer, Francisco Matugas, Oscar Malapitan, Rexlon Gatchalian, Emil Ong, Florencio Miraflores and 72 other congressmen.

Charlie V. Manalo

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