Sandoval ploy to stay at House assailed – Malaya 12.07.2006

SEN. Jinggoy Estrada yesterday blasted Malabon-Navotas Rep. Federico Sandoval for blocking the passage of the bill that would break up the Malabon-Navotas congressional district and give Navotas cityhood status, by consigning the bicameral-approved version of the measure to the House committee on rules.

The bill turning Navotas into a new city, authored by Sandoval himself, was approved unanimously in both houses and was also upheld in the bicameral panel. Sandoval, however, apparently lost interest in the measure after the bicameral panel rejected his proposal to hold elections for the first Navotas congressman two months after the regular May 2007 elections.

Bicam panel members stuck to the original provision mandating that elections for the new congressional district of Navotas be held simultaneously with the 2007 elections.

Sandoval is on his third and final term as congressman of Malabon-Navotas.

Estrada said San-doval, instead of shepherding the ratification of the measure by the lower house, moved to send the measure back to the committee on rules where it remains stranded.

Estrada, who sat in the bicameral panel, said Sandoval was clearly plotting to run for Navotas congressman two months after his term expires as Malabon-Navotas representative.

"This appears to be his gambit. He is hoping to become congressman again within two months after the end of his third and final term. Clearly, this is an insidious, if not an immoral, attempt on his part to circumvent the constitutional prohibition," Estrada said.

Sandoval is said to be grooming his brother Alvin to take over his Malabon congressional seat while he himself will try to return to Congress via the newly created Navotas congressional district. – Dennis Gadil