May bago ng pinuno ang Minority Bloc sa Kamara matapos magbitiw at sumama sa majority coalition si Manila Rep. Benny Abante.
Sa naging pulong ng minority coalition, araw ng Lunes (October 19), iniluklok si Abang Lingkod Rep. Joseph Paduano na ibinoto ng lahat ng 22 miyembro nito.
Sa statement ng minorya, sa pamumuno ni Paduano, makatitiyak ang sambayanang Filipino na mananatili ang prinsipyo nito upang maging fiscalizer at magkaroon ng ‘check and balance’ sa Mababang Kapulungan ng Kongreso.
“With the new leadership under Rep. Paduano, the Minority Bloc is assuring the House and the Filipino people that it will remain loyal to the principles that mould the group in fiscalizing and in providing a potent force to implement check and balance in the House of Representatives,” sabi sa statement.
Nakasaad din na susuportatahan din ng minorya ang mga panukala na makatao at tinitiyak na magbibigay sila ng “constructive critism” at hindi magiging obstructionist.
“The 21-member bloc will continue to support legislations for the people through constructive criticisms and not as obstructionists, as it played a major role in the passing of the 2021 General Appropriations Bill or the 2021 Proposed Budget which was finally approved on Third and Final Reading on Friday, which President Rodrigo Duterte wanted passed constitutionally and legally, and on time, not railroaded,” nakasaad pa sa statement ng minority bloc.
Patuloy din anilang itutulak ang pagkakaroon ng batas na magbebenepisyo ang sambayanan lalo na’t nasa gitna ang bansa ng COVID-19 pandemic.
Iginiit din ng minorya na bagamat iba-iba ang kanilang political party at mga paniniwala, nagkakaisa naman sila sa mga panukalang batas na makabubuti sa mga ordinaryong mamamayan.
Sabi ni minority bloc, “Members of the minority bloc may have differences due to party affiliations, convictions, beliefs and even ideologies, but it will always unite with regards to legislations that will redound to the ordinary Filipino.”
Nagpaabot naman ng pagbati ang grupo kay House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco sa pagkakahalal sa puwesto.
Si Paduano ay third termer congressman na miyembro ng Minority bloc simula noong 17th Congress.