Andaya dropping majority leadership, taking powerful committee
Credit to Author: cbibe| Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2019 00:56:47 +0000
MANILA, Philippines — House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. will yield his position to Capiz 2nd District Rep. Fredenil Castro during Monday afternoon’s plenary session.
Castro confirmed this to INQUIRER.net, adding that the Camarines Sur congressman would be the chair of the powerful House appropriations committee.
“Yes… Cong. Andaya will slide to being Chairman of the Committee on Appropriation,” Castro said.
The lawmaker from Capiz said the latter’s probe into the budget anomalies under Budget Sec. Benjamin Diokno’s watch has nothing to do with the change in leadership.
Castro was among the choices for the majority leader post when Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assumed office in July 2018 but he “gave way to Andaya” whom he described as a “close friend.”
“The probe has absolutely nothing to do with my assumption as Majority Leader. There was prior understanding,” Castro added.
The appropriations panel’s current acting chair is Senior Vice Chairman Maria Carmen Zamora from the 1st District of Compostela Valley. /cbb