Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 15) – The leaders of all political parties of the House of Representatives on Saturday said they took “utmost exception” to statements made by former President Rodrigo Duterte, which included a death threat against a progressive lawmaker and criticisms of the chamber’s decision to reallocate confidential funds to security agencies.
“We, leaders of all political parties in the House of Representatives, take utmost exception to the remarks made by former President Rodrigo R. Duterte. Our institution, the House of Representatives, has been unwavering in its dedication to the Filipino people,” a statement issued by House Secretary General Reginald Velasco read.
“It is deeply unfortunate that the former President chose to malign the very institution that for years supported many of his own legislative priorities.”
In a Tuesday interview published by SMNI with his spiritual advisor Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, Duterte issued a death threat against ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro and defended his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte and her controversial request for more than half a billion pesos in secret funds for her office and the Department of Education (DepEd) which she also heads.
READ: Legal action eyed vs. ex-Pres. Duterte over death threats against Makabayan solon
“We call upon the former President and all parties involved to avoid making threats or insinuating harm against any member of the House or the institution itself. Dialogue and understanding should always be at the forefront, superseding divisive rhetoric,” the House statement said.
Castro, the subject of Duterte’s threat, has not issued a response to the former president’s remarks. The interview has since been unpublished from SMNI’s YouTube page, but it is available on other social media outlets.
The House defended its realignment of confidential funds of civilian agencies to the budget of security agencies amid rising tensions and aggression by China in the West Philippine Sea.
“It is essential to understand that this decision was made for the benefit of the nation and not as a personal affront to any individual, including Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio,” it said.
Aside from the Office of the Vice President and DepEd, the lower chamber also did not allotted secret funds for the Department of Agriculture, Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Department of Information and Communications Technology.
“Casting these decisions in a light of personal vendettas is a disservice to the diligent members of the House of the People and the very essence of our democratic process,” the statement said.
The House likewise reiterated that it, too, has no confidential funds and said its extraordinary and miscellaneous funds were “standard budgetary allocations meant for official duties and functions.”
It added that these funds were open to scrutiny and underwent rigorous oversight by state auditors.
READ: Congress denies having confidential funds
