Manifesto of Support for the House Leadership

Minority Bloc

25 September 2020

“Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those
who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, of
hundreds, of fifties and of tens.” ~ Exodus 18:21

Since the beginning of the 18th Congress, the members of the Minority have strived to
establish a productive working relationship with our counterparts in the Majority, mindful of our
responsibilities to partake in meaningful debate on legislation and public policy, to bring to the
public’s attention issues of national interest, to ensure that measures that pass through the
legislative mill are extensively scrutinized, and to take to task government agencies as they
perform their various mandates.

While we have, for the most part, not always agreed on the outcome of our deliberations,
we nonetheless appreciate that the members of the Minority have been given opportunities to
make our views known and to advance our positions––our disparate opinions met with open
discussion rather than close-minded dismissal.

This environment, in our view, is a product of the leadership of the House under Speaker
Alan Peter Cayetano. Under his stewardship, the members of the Minority have been given free
rein to exercise our right to speak for the voiceless, to stand up for the disenfranchised, and to
champion the marginalized.

All these would not have been possible without the sufficient democratic space that has
been generously provided by the Speaker. It is in this democratic space that the Minority of the
18th Congress has flourished; and it is in this democratic space where we have been free to speak
our minds and our hearts. And while we operate in a space that is distinctly ours, we recognize
that under the leadership of Speaker Cayetano we are united with the Majority through our
shared aspirations to serve the Filipino people, to fight for the oppressed, and to bring progress to
the nation.

It is in this context that we believe that the House of Representatives would be best
served with the current leadership at the helm––especially now that we are in the middle of
budget deliberations that are crucial to the recovery of our nation from the Covid-19 pandemic.

We recognize that the choice of House leadership rightfully belongs to our esteemed
colleagues in the Majority, and as tradition dictates, it is the Majority that chooses the Speaker of
the House. In this exercise, the Minority is a mere passive observer in this process, and is deeply
committed to submitting to the wisdom and respecting the will of the Majority.

At this point, however, we submit that it may be more prudent for us to table this
discussion in the meantime, as our country is currently sailing through rough waters—and in
such situations it may be advisable to help the captain who has navigated us safely through this
squall, rather than be sidetracked by a debate over whose hands should be on the rudder.

Today, as the nation faces the most difficult health and economic crisis in its entire
history, it behooves Congress to rise and meet expectations to swiftly pass laws that will save
lives and livelihood, and to approve a pro-people budget for 2021 that provides a sufficient
response to the COVID-19 pandemic. And while it is unfortunate that questions on the House
leadership have arisen, these need to be urgently addressed so Congress is not derailed in the
fulfillment of its urgent tasks ahead.

As the Majority reflects on the question of leadership, the Minority prays for their
strength and enlightenment in order that they be reminded to always put the interests of the
Filipino people above their own.

Isantabi muna natin ang pulitika, at tututukan natin ang dapat tutukan: ang kapakakan
ng taumbayan.

Signed:
 BIENVENIDO
“BENNY” M. ABANTE, JR. JANETTE L. GARIN JOSE CHRISTOPHER Y.
BELMONTE

SHAREE ANN T. TAN

JOSE “BONITO” C. SINGSON, JR. GABRIEL H. BORDADO, JR.

STELLA LUZ A. QUIMBO

ALEX “AA” L. ADVINCULA

 MA. VICTORIA V.
UMALI

GODOFREDO N. GUYA LAWRENCE “LAW” H. FORTUN

ANGELICA NATASHA CO SERGIO C. DAGOOC

IRENE GAY F. SAULOG ISAGANI S.

AMATONG