Manila, Philippines – Pinalagan ng ilang mambabatas ang pasaring ni Senador Imee Marcos na dapat ay palitan na ng mga kongresista si House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Giit ni Deputy Speaker Jay Khonghun na dapat maghinay-hinay si Senador Imee dahil ang pagpili aniya sa Speaker of the House ay gampanin na nakalaan lamang sa mga kongresista.
“Konting preno naman sa pagsasalita. May hangganan ang mga puwedeng sabihin sa publiko, lalo na kung nakakasira sa integridad ng ibang institusyon.Hindi kami palaban, pero hindi rin kami tatahimik kapag may mali. We owe it to the institution and to the people we represent to speak up when the House is being dragged unfairly.”
Giit pa ni Khonghun na ang pahayag aniya ng senadora ay mistulang paghahamon sa isang co-equal body at nanganganib na magkaroon ng political tension sa pagitan ng dalawang kapulungan ng Kongreso.
“What was said was not just a personal opinion. It became a public provocation. And when a senator calls for the ouster of the House Speaker, that’s not just political noise anymore, it becomes borderline interference,” dagdag pa ni Khonghun.
Aniya, nananatili ang solidong suporta ng mga mambabatas kay Speaker Romualdez mula sa mayorya ng mambabatas.
“Let’s be clear: Speaker Romualdez was chosen by his peers. He has led with clarity and vision, even amid difficult and sensitive political moments. That kind of leadership doesn’t get replaced just because one senator says so. Hindi si Speaker ang may reklamo. Hindi siya ang naglilitis. Ang ginawa niya ay trabaho niya. Ginampanan lang niya ang tungkulin bilang lider ng Kamara,” ayon pa rin kay Khonghun.
Sinabi naman ni Ako Bicol Rep. Alfredo Garbin na kung handang isuko ni Senador Imee sa Supreme Court ang kapangyarihan ng Senado ay desisyon ito ng mga Senador ngunit hindi aniya ito gagawin ng mga kongresista dahil sila ay nagkakaisa.
“If Senator Imee Marcos is willing to surrender the powers of the Senate to the Supreme Court, then that is a decision that reflects their chamber’s internal disposition. But here in the House of Representatives, we stand united. We, the duly elected members of the House, derive our mandate from the Constitution and from the people. Our leadership under Speaker Martin Romualdez was chosen by the will of the supermajority—an expression of democratic consensus that cannot and should not be overturned by a solitary call from a member of the Senate,” ani Garbin.
Magkapantay na sangay at kapangyarihan aniya meron ang Kamara at Senado kung kaya hindi padadala sa pambubuyo ang mga kongresista.
“We have not yielded to external pressure, even from the highest court, when it encroached upon our constitutional duties. So it should be no surprise that we will not yield to political maneuvering from Senator Imee Marcos, who has shown a willingness to concede institutional power under pressure. Let this be clear: the House is a co-equal branch of government.”
Binigyang diin pa ni Garbin na malayang makapagpahayag ng saloobin si Senador Imee ngunit kailangan aniyang maghinay-hinay ito sa pakikialam sa Kamara.
“Senator Marcos is free to express her opinions in the Senate, but she must refrain from meddling in the affairs of the House. If the Senate wishes to abdicate its authority, that is their prerogative—but do not expect the House to do the same. We firmly believe in the sanctity of the supermajority’s decision. Leadership changes, if ever warranted, will come only from within—through the same democratic process that installed them. Until then, the leadership of Speaker Martin Romualdez stands firm,” ani Garbin. (Meliza Maluntag)
