THE seven-member Makabayan bloc pulled out of the “Super Majority” in the House of Representatives on Thursday, vowing to fight an emerging “new dictatorship” under President Rodrigo Duterte. The bloc had secured two important legislative victories as part of the House majority – the P2,000 increase in social security pensions and free tuition in state universities in colleges. The members of the Makabayan bloc were promptly deleted from the majority’s group on the popular smartphone messaging app Viber, Casilao said. The President had claimed that conditional cash transfers of the Social Welfare department under Taguiwalo were used to buy guns and ammunition for rebels. Sought for comment, Ilagan confirmed her appointment and disclosed that she was no longer a part of the Makabayan bloc.

Source: Manila Times September 14, 2017 16:18 UTC