Beng, Erbie stand for change

(Published on February 6, 2008 in Zamboanga Today.)

"Yes."
This was the vote of Zamboanga City's Congressional Representatives Ma. Isabelle Climaco of District I and Erico Basilio Fabian of District 2 on Tuesday evening as the House of Representatives elected for change in the House leadership and consequently unanimously voted as a body for Davao City Representative Prospero Nograles as the House Speaker.

"It is a vote for Mindanao," declared Climaco in a phone interview yesterday morning.

"It is a vote for the greater interests of the people," pronounced Fabian in a separate phone interview.

Fabian, who is serving his second term in Congress, addressed the legislature and said, "I don't belong to either parties (Lakas and Kampi). I belong to a party (LDP) with only 3 to 4 members and am not even sure where it's headed to. It's a fight between the President's men."

Climaco, a first termer, explained, "We need a Speaker that would guide new members of Congress. I was really honored when I was designated as caretaker of Basilan but my appeal for support on the retention of the employees of the district and others fell on deaf ears and these are entitlements we are nt supposed to beg for."

"Speaker De Venecia did his best to manage the affairs of the House of Representatives," Fabian stressed. "In this world, we have to open our eyes to reality. Our decision should always be anchored on the greater interests, and these are the main interests of our people."

Climaco, however said, "We need a Speaker who will keep his promises. I've learned a lesson from that." Expressing disappointment on De Venecia's non-action on her formal requests, the lady solon added, "He never responded."

Fabian in his speech sought permission to speak in Chavacano from Rep. Fuentebella, who acted as Speaker for that special session, and addressed the constituency that his vote was "para na bien del todo (for the good of all)".

Climaco opined that Speaker Prospero Nograles "seems to be a person who listens. He once said, si tiene lang bacante posicion, dale con el posicion to someone from Mindanao." She also shared, "What I experienced in my first months in Congress was that, legislators from Mindanao do not feel support from the House leadership. With Boy Nogi, we have esperanza (hope)."

About 59 to 60 of the legislators in Congress are from Mindanao, and 95% voted for Nograles.

Fabian, in conclusion, saw the nomination of former Speaker Jose de Venecia of Congressman Nograles as "an act of statesmanship".

As the Congressional session ended and went down to Philippine history, the first Speaker from Mindanao declared, "It's time to get back to work." (Frencie L. Carreon)