A group of at least 22 lawmakers from the Majority Bloc have reaffirmed their decision to boycott the upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA) and the formal opening of the House of Representatives slated for January.
The lawmakers, who previously backed Speaker Richard N. Koon during the leadership crisis at the Lower House, confirmed their position on Tuesday following a second consultative meeting held in the Rehab Community. According to the group, the boycott will remain in effect despite ongoing political engagements and behind-the-scenes negotiations at the Capitol.
The latest meeting follows an earlier gathering in the Police Academy Community, where discussions reportedly centered on plans to remove both the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House.
During their most recent deliberations, the lawmakers cited what they described as ineffective leadership by Speaker Koon, Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah, and the leadership of two key legislative committees,
the Ways, Means and Finance Committee, and the Rules, Order and Administration Committee.
They also raised concerns over the alleged mistreatment of Central Administration personnel, personal staffers, and members of the Plenary Secretariat, particularly in relation to the implementation of recent salary adjustments. According to the lawmakers, the handling of staff compensation has been unfair and lacks transparency.
In addition, the group expressed frustration that a significant number of civil servants were reportedly left unpaid during the festive season, a situation they said denied workers and their families the opportunity to enjoy the holidays.
With the Majority Bloc lawmakers now aligning themselves with members of the Minority Bloc, the opposition has reportedly secured the numerical strength required to initiate proceedings aimed at the removal of both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The development signals a deepening rift within the Legislature, raising fresh questions about stability and leadership as the new legislative session approaches.
