MANILA, Philippines 鈥� His refusal to sign a manifesto of support for House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez comes from a belief that the chamber needs unifying leadership, Deputy Speaker Vincent 鈥淒uke鈥� Frasco said on Monday.
Frasco, breaking his silence over the issue, said that he believes the House should be a 鈥減artner in building the country up鈥� and not allow the chamber to be used to sow discord.
鈥淭his decision is not about creating further division. I simply believe the House of Representatives can, and must, do better. We should be a partner in building the country up, not a platform for further discord,鈥� Frasco said in a statement posted on his Facebook page.
听鈥淎t this critical time in our nation, I believe we need leadership in the House that unites rather than divides. Leadership that reinforces our shared vision and strengthens the path forward for our country,鈥� he added.
Frasco said he was asked last May 14 to sign a manifesto of support for Romualdez鈥檚 continued leadership in the 20th Congress.听
He, however, did not sign the manifesto after local leaders from Visayas and Mindanao aired 鈥渇rustration鈥� and 鈥渄isappointment鈥� over unity efforts being undermined by 鈥減olitics and personal interests.鈥�
鈥淚 have not signed the manifesto, and after careful reflection, I have decided not to. In recent weeks, I have spoken with my colleagues in Congress, local leaders 鈥� especially from the Visayas and Mindanao 鈥� and most importantly, with my own constituents,鈥� Frasco noted.
鈥淎 shared frustration has emerged. There is deep disappointment that the unity our people once hoped for has been steadily undermined by political and personal interests,鈥� he added.听
Deputy Speaker David Suarez, however, believes that if Frasco is looking for unity, then the support that Romualdez got through the same manifesto that he refused to sign is enough proof.
According to Suarez, 285 members of the House have signed the manifesto as of Monday.
鈥淲ell, if you look at the support that Speaker Romualdez has garnered and continues to maintain 鈥� 285 congressmen have signed the manifesto [of] support 鈥� and I think that is a true sign of unity when it comes to the members of the House of Representatives,鈥� Suarez said.
听鈥淚f we want continuity, we want true leadership that can address the issues being faced by our country, and if there is unity that needs to be shown, I think the manifesto of support that Speaker Martin Romualdez has gained up to as of this moment is a true sign of unity in the House of Representatives,鈥� he added.
Over the weekend, it was revealed that Frasco has been expelled from the National Unity Party (NUP).
According to NUP president and Camarines Sur 2nd District Rep. LRay Villafuerte, the party is expelling Frasco after he reportedly refused to sign the manifesto supporting Romualdez鈥檚 continued leadership in the 20th Congress.
NUP is one of the political parties belonging to the supermajority coalition that is backing Romualdez to remain at the helm of the lower chamber in the next Congress.听
Villafuerte said in a statement that Frasco is 鈥渃ontravening the party鈥檚 official position to support Romualdez.鈥�
READ: NUP expels Duke Frasco for not supporting Romualdez, says Villafuerte
There were also claims that the Frascos鈥� discontent with the House leadership stems from rumors that Tingog Party-list Rep. Yedda Romualdez, the wife of Speaker Romualdez, is eyeing a local position in Cebu province.
Rep. Romualdez on Sunday, however, denied these rumors, describing them as 鈥渇alse, misleading, and political intrigue.鈥�
听鈥淚 want to speak directly to the people of Cebu 鈥� and to the Filipino public 鈥� who may have seen my name being dragged into local political speculation,鈥� she said.
听鈥淟et me be very clear: I am not running for governor. I am not running for any position in Cebu. I have not transferred my residency,鈥� she added.
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