Rep. Ignacio Arroyo Jr. (Neg. Occ., 5 th district) was still abroad yesterday but he said he was sending by fax his vote of no confidence in House Speaker Jose de Venecia.

“The reason being that like most congressmen we feel that he is deflecting the issue by saying government is corrupt while he is the one. He does not lead by example,” Arroyo said in a text message.

To unseat de Venecia as Speaker of the House, 121 votes are needed, or a simple majority of the 240 members of the House.

At least 134 lawmakers at the House of Representatives have signed a manifesto declaring “loss of confidence” in Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., Rep. Luis Villafuerte (Camarines Sur), Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino president, said yesterday.

But de Venecia said "We still have the numbers. They don't have the numbers. In fact they (those challenging him) are under the gun. They are pressured to produce 121 warm bodies on Monday."

He also said President Gloria Arroyo was throwing her all out support for him.

Rep. Monico Puentevella ( Bacolod ) said he has not signed the no-confidence manifesto yet because he has not read it. Let's wait for Monday, he said.

Rep. Genaro Alvarez (Neg. Occ., 6 th district) also said he did not sign anything.

Rep. Alfredo Marañon III (Neg. Occ., 2 nd District) said “whatever decision we will make, it will be for the good of Negros .”*CPG

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