Newsbits - Thursday, February 7, 2008 3:50 - 0 Comments

Beng: JDV ouster vote is for Basilan

Zamboanga City (Asia’s Latin City) - - District I Congresswoman Beng Climaco has joined the 139 other members of the House of Representatives in declaring the position of Speaker as vacant saying that her stand attests the need for equal representation in Congress.

“My vote for yes will be a vote to give not only Basilan but all the other districts in the country the chance to have equal representation in the House or Representatives”, the lady solon explained her vote on the floor Monday night.

Climaco said former House Speaker Jose de Venecia failed to heed her pleas for support and assistance to the people of Basilan and the unpaid employees of the late Cong. Wahab Akbar.

The District I solon was designated by de Venecia as caretaker of Basilan a few days after Cong. Akbar was slain last November.

“I was very honored last Nov. when I was designated as caretaker of Basilan district, but my plea to help the district and the unpaid employees fell on deaf ears”, Climaco said on the floor.

She said Basilan deserves a share as any other district in the country but the speaker has abandoned her and the Basilan district.

“We need to uphold the dignity of the House of Representatives by giving each and every member his share and a chance to have their voices heard in Congress”, she emphasized.

As a neophyte member of the House, she said, she needs a speaker who will “guide, listen and help the new members of Congress”.

By a majority vote, the House of Representative voted to replace Pangasinan Congressman Jose de Venecia as speaker of the House Tuesday.

Davao representative Prospero Nograles is the new speaker of the House. (Ryan Sta. Teresa)