Manila, Philippines – Hindi palalagpasin ng liderato ng Kamara ang pag-aakusa ng mag-asawang Discaya sa pagdinig ng House Blue Ribbon Committee.
“I cannot and will not allow lies and name-dropping to pass unchecked. The claim in the Discaya couple’s affidavit that my name was used for commissions is false, malicious, and nothing more than name-dropping. Let me be clear: Wala akong kinalaman, wala akong pahintulot, at wala akong basbas sa mga ganyang gawain,” giit ni House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Paglilinaw pa ng mambababatas na ang pangunahing gampanin ng Kongreso ay mag-apruba ng panukalang badyet ngunit hindi ito ang nag-iisyu ng pondo at lalong hindi nagpapatupad ng mga proyekto.
“Congress debates and approves the budget. It does not release funds. It does not implement projects. That is the sole duty of the Executive and agencies like the DPWH.”
Aniya, wala siyang kinalaman sa sinumang gumagamit sa kaniyang pangalan na kailangan na ring managot dahil hindi aniya siya tatanggap ng anumang suhol.
“If anyone invoked my name, they did so without my knowledge and without my consent. At kung ginawa nila iyon para kumita, sila ang mandaraya at sila ang dapat managot. And I say this with all honesty: I have never, and I will never, accept a bribe from anybody. Walang sinuman ang kayang manuhol sa akin. Alam iyan ng lahat ng House Members. I am self-made, and I have been blessed with the trust of the Filipino people. I do not need—and will never allow myself—to be corrupted by money that does not belong to me.”
Tiniyak ni Romualdez na hindi niya mapapayagang madungisan ang integredad ng Kongreso.
“Kung may nang-abuso o gumamit ng pangalan ko para kumita, sila ang dapat managot—kahit sino pa sila, sa loob o labas ng gobyerno. But let us not allow lies and name-dropping to destroy reputations or weaken faith in Congress. I will not allow falsehoods to tarnish my integrity or the institution I lead. Under my watch, we will clean the system, punish the guilty, and protect the people’s money.”
Nauna ng pinasalamatan ni Romualdez si Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. dahil sa panawagan nito sa pang-unawa at pagiging kalmado maging ang matiyagang paghahanay ng gabinete upang maihanda ang National Expenditure Program (NEP).
“If our deliberations have caused any discomfort, we ask for understanding. The House’s duty is not to cast blame but to ensure that every peso in the budget is transparent, accountable, and truly for the people,” ani Romualdez.
Sa paglilinis aniya ng kanilang hanay dito sa Kamara ay walang exempted.
“We recognize that there are issues that must be addressed, and we begin by putting our own House in order. Walang exempted—kasama kami diyan. At the same time, we stand firm in our partnership with the Executive, under the leadership of the President, to strengthen the budget process and to make sure that government resources are used wisely and well.”
Dagdag pa ni Romualdez na, “this is not a clash of institutions. It is a partnership in accountability and service. The House stands united with the President and his Cabinet to restore trust, ensure transparency, and deliver a budget that is credible, acceptable, and beneficial to every Filipino.” (Meliza Maluntag)
