MANILA, Philippines – Both Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas dismissed the petition several lawmakers filed before the Supreme Court (SC) challenging the minority leadership of Quezon 3rd District Representative Danilo Suarez. 

“Wala ‘yan. Garbage ‘yan (That’s nothing. That’s garbage). It will not prosper, I tell you. As a lawyer, that’s nothing,” said Alvarez on the sidelines of the thanksgiving dinner of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) on Wednesday night, November 16. 

The 7-member House independent minority bloc, who call themselves the “Magnificent 7,” filed a petition for mandamus urging the High Court to recognize Ifugao Representative Teddy Baguilat Jr as the rightful minority leader following Suarez’s controversial election.

Aside from Baguilat, the lawmakers who filed the petition include: 

• Edcel Lagman, Albay 1st District
• Raul Daza, Northern Samar 1st District
• Edgar Erice, Caloocan City 2nd District
• Emmanuel Billones, Capiz 1st District
• Tom Villarin, Akbayan
• Gary Alejano, Magdalo 

But Alvarez said the SC cannot interfere in Congress’ affairs because of the separation of powers of the 3 branches of government. 

“Of course not! May (There is) separation of powers! ‘Yun pa lang, patay na eh (As early as that stage, the petition is dead already),” said Alvarez.

In their petition, the Magnificent 7 bloc also wants the SC justices to compel Alvarez and Fariñas to recognize Baguilat as minority leader and to consider the rest of them as minority members.  

“Puwede bang i-compel ang Congress eh pagkatapos kami lang ni Speaker [ang nasa petition]? Anong magagawa namin ni Speaker? Wala ‘yan. Matatalo sila diyan,” said Fariñas.  

(Can they compel Congress to recognize them and yet only me and Speaker are cited in the petition? What can we do? That’s nothing. They will lose.) 

Suarez earlier slammed the petition against him, saying it reveals the alleged intention of the Liberal Party (LP) to “monopolize” power at the House. 

Baguilat, Lagman, Daza, Erice, and Billones all belong to the LP. The rest of their party mates signed a coalition agreement with PDP-Laban to join the supermajority bloc. – Rappler.com