25 Nobyembre,2024 Lunes
No to Divorce!!!
Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez
No to SOGIE bill
PM for any hospital discharge problem
Happy Birthday Rosita Belmonte-Jose more birthdays to come
Happy Birthday Jo Ephraim Lopez more birthdays to come
Family of the late Jocelyn “Jo” Lising-Abelgas appreciates every moments shared by friends and relatives in their bereavement
Hse leaders rally behind Martin Romualdez
By Nidz Godino
“She seems to be hallucinating…that is why our advice to her is consult doctor,” leaders of House of Representatives rallied behind Speaker Martin Romualdez, dismissing Vice President Sara Duterte Carpio’s latest statement as “desperate attempt” to shift public attention from her alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential and intelligence funds (CIFs) of Office of the Vice President (OVP) and Department of Education when she was the DepEd secretary.
Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr., Deputy Speaker David Suarez and Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe asked Duterte to “stop the drama, hallucination and deception.”
Three House leaders said Romualdez and chamber have consistently adhered to transparency and good governance.
“Report of the Commission on Audit (COA) on how House of Representatives used people’s money is clean, unlike OVP under VP Duterte,” Gonzales added.
Lawmaker stressed House would not be investigating illegal activities like drug trafficking, money laundering and hoarding and price manipulation of consumer products if it is benefiting from illicit practices as claimed by the Vice President.
“Why would we investigate if one of us are benefiting from illegal activities..we would have kept our silence,” Gonzales asked.
Meanwhile, Suarez said Duterte’s accusations are mere “stories, drama and deception.”
“They are used to that…that is their expertise deception, that is only diversion from her misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds that was received by OVP and DepEd when she was still its secretary” he said.
He also slammed the Vice President for consistently refusing to explain her use of CIFs despite repeated invitations by House to do so and instead resorting to theatrics and unfounded accusations in evading accountability for missing funds.
“There is only one reason for her refusal to appear before committee…she has no explanation to misuse of P612.5 million confidential funds of OVP and DepEd…she cannot explain receipts without signatures, no names, unreadable names, names of bakeshop and one popular snack received hundreds of thousands of rewards,” Suarez said, referring to certain “Mary Grace Piattos” who allegedly received CIFs.
For his part, Dalipe said Duterte’s allegation that Romualdez’s supposed plan to run for president motivated House to look into Vice President’s alleged misuse of CIFs “has no basis at all.”
“House wanted to protect public funds and acted on COA report questioning hundreds of millions of pesos in confidential funds expenses by Madame Sara Duterte as Vice President and as DepEd secretary,” he said.
He reiterated that COA has disallowed P73 million of P125 million in CIF spent by OVP in December 2022 and has flagged more than P160 million of P325 million disbursed in first three quarters of 2023.
Tingog Rep. Jude Acidre echoed his colleagues’ sentiments, stressing Duterte needs to answer how she used taxpayers’ money instead of displaying her “toxic behavior” that reflects poorly on her position as vice president.
House Majority Leader and La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega V urged the Vice President to get herself checked by doctor as her fiery remarks on her press conference “warrants psychological evaluation.”
House committee on good government and public accountability chairman Joel Chua and House quad comm lead chairman Robert Ace Barbers described Duterte’s remarks as “desperate lies” aimed at evading accountability over her alleged misuse of CIF.
House Minority Leader and 4Ps party[1]list Rep. Marcelino Libanan advised Duterte to heed her father’s advice to get out of politics “before it’s too late.”
Bukidnon Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores said Duterte’s death threat against Marcos should be investigated for criminal liability.
Assistant Majority Leader and Lanao del Sur 1st district Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said implied admission of Duterte that she has access to hitman has sent shockwaves across the country.
Following Duterte’s revelation of access to hitman, Manila 2nd district Rep. Rolando Valeriano said parliamentary courtesy for Duterte is “over.”
ISKUP! 