By TJ Burgonio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
“Labeling Rep.
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the good model in corruption and plunder...has no parallel in vulgarity in the halls of Congress.â€
With this argument, lawmakers allied with Arroyo Monday filed an ethics complaint against Akbayan party-list Rep. Walden Bello over his “unparliamentary remarks†against the former President.
Representatives Marc Cagas, Ignacio Arroyo, Simeon Datumanong, Milagros Magsaysay and Aurelio Gonzales Jr. sought Bello’s suspension.
The complaint for unparliamentary language and indecorous remarks “amounting to serious disorderly behavior†was filed with the Office of Secretary General, pending the constitution of the ethics committee.
“I filed a case to set the tone and parameters here in the House. We have rules and we should stick to the rules. You can always deliver a message; you can always say what you want. But there is also a manner where you can say it diplomatically...without going to low blows,†Magsaysay told reporters in a briefing.
Gloria Arroyo attended the minority bloc’s luncheon but left shortly before her allies announced the filing. Her son, Ang Galing Pinoy party-list Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey†Arroyo, backed the complaint.
“This is the House of Representatives. We are governed by rules which call for high ethical standards. So when you want to speak your mind, you must accept this authority of the plenary. Now if you don’t want to respect this school of ethics, perhaps you should go to the street and say whatever you want,†Mikey Arroyo said.
Since future students would study the records of the House it is important that “we conduct ourselves as gentlemen and gentlewomen,†he added.
Bello was unfazed by the complaint, and said he was standing by the veracity of his allegations against the former President.
“I am not threatened by the news that the minority has finally filed the ethics complaint against me,†he said in a statement.
“In the midst of the political maneuvering by the minority, let us not forget the real ethical question: Is it appropriate for Ms Arroyo to get away with grave abuse of power and massive corruption while the Filipino people continue to suffer the effects of almost 10 years of her morally bankrupt leadership? History will bear us out,†he added.
In a scathing Aug. 2 privilege speech, Bello ridiculed Arroyo as he detailed the sins of her nine-year administration, calling her the model of corruption, and referring to her subordinates as pigs and crocodiles.
He also said he hoped that Arroyo would be prosecuted soon “so that she can be transported from this august chamber to the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa, where she belongs.â€
Linkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=31493.0
