‘House must first sanction Torres’ request’

Rep. Stanley T. Torres’ request for the services of a House legal counsel will continue to be denied until it is sanctioned by the House of Representatives through a formal resolution, according to the Legislative Bureau.

LB deputy director Glenna Palacios maintained that LB director Joaquin Omar was acting within his authority when he refused Torres’ request.

Torres wants the bureau to assign House legal counsel Antonette Villagomez to help his office in his pending lawsuit against the Executive Branch. But the LB has declined his request.

On Tuesday, Torres brought the matter to House Speaker Oscar M. Babauta. He also questioned the bureau’s authority to dictate the duties and responsibilities of the legal counsels assigned to the House of Representatives.

Palacios, who also serves as the bureau’s public information officer, said that Omar was not required by law to assign any legal counsel to assist one lawmaker in pursuing litigation initiated by that lawmaker alone, unless the bureau was explicitly requested to do so by a Senate or a House resolution.

“Rep. Torres’ action is that of his own and not the House of Representatives, nor is it sanctioned by the House. So until such time that the request is made by the House of Representatives through a resolution, Rep. Torres’ request will be denied,” Palacios said.

She also noted that the Constitution gave the LB director the authority to head the bureau and employ all necessary staff members.

“It is therefore the LB director who is charged with managing the provisions of services to the Legislature and making the necessary staff allocations, not any member of the Legislature,” Palacios said.

In addition, she maintained that Torres’ request would disrupt the legal services provided to other House members. Villagomez provides legal service for three House committees and to the entire minority bloc.

She added that the legal work Torres wants Villagomez to do would require her entire workweek.

“If such is the case, then the rest of the minority members and the House Committees to which the legal counsel is assign to would be without legal advice at the request of one member of the minority. So Director Omar is within his rights and authority to refuse to assign any legal counsel to a specific request by one member if such request is going to interfere with the allocation of resources to other members,” Palacios said.