MANILA – Rep. Fredenil Castro (Capiz, 2nd District) was named as the new House majority leader, replacing Rep. Rolando Andaya (Camarines Sur).
Andaya is set to chair the House’s Committee on Appropriations, which was vacated following the appointment of Davao City lawmaker Karlo Nograles as President Rodrigo Duterte’s Cabinet secretary.
Castro said he and Andaya have mutually agreed on the shakeup in the House leadership as it was finalized even before the latter was appointed as House majority leader last year.
“It’s part of an understanding between two gentlemen,” Castro said in an ambush interview on Monday. “The Malacañang Palace has nothing to do with the change of House leadership.”
Andaya, who was named as the House majority leader following the assumption for Pampanga representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as House Speaker, said that he feels relieved that he was replaced by Castro from the position.
“Any taker for this position, I will owe him great deal,” Andaya said. “I see this House majority leader position as a burden. It was offered to me before but I begged off a hundred times.”
“Since Congress will go on election recess from February to June. There is no need for a majority leader when Congress is in hibernation. I will be the first to vote that I be relieved,” he added./PN
