Arroyo US dinner opens rift between Nograles, Suarez

Treating the President and her entourage to a $15,000 dinner does not buy power to change the leaders of the House of Representatives. This was the reaction of House Speaker Prospero Nograles to Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez's statement Thursday that the "radical solution" to the House's non-action on proposed revenue-collecting measures is to change the leadership. "Just because he pays for expensive dinners does not mean he can change the leaders in the House, does it?" Nograles said in a text message. Suarez had earlier claimed that he paid for the presidential entourage's $15,000 dinner at Bobby Van's Steakhouse in Washington DC. During the weekly Serye press conference in Quezon City Thursday, Suarez lamented that the House has not yet acted on proposed revenue-collecting measures despite earlier assurances. Suarez is the author of bills proposing a simplified taxation scheme on "sin" products like tobacco and alcohol, as well as a resolution pushing for a P5-centavo broad spectrum fee per text message. The said proposals are still pending with the Ways and Means committee. If the measures do not see passage soon, key positions have to be given final notice, Suarez said. "If not, you go through a process of changing leadership," he added. In response, Nograles said, "Is he blaming me or is he implying or does he mean he can run the House better?" "I suggest that if he has complaints he should take it up with the leadership and not to complain to media. I am really trying my best to work hard and things are not perfect," added the Speaker. The two lawmakers are both administration stalwarts. Nograles is the vice chairman of majority party Lakas-Kampi-CMD, Suarez the senior deputy secretary general. - GMANews.TV