
Ni Romeo Allan Butuyan II
HINDI katanggap-tanggap para sa Kamara de Representantes ang di umano’y inasala ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa bantay pagpatay o pananakit sa sandaling tuluyang tanggalan ng confidential and intelligence fund ang anak niyang Pangalawang Pangulo.
Panawagan ni House Deputy Majority Leader Franz Pumaren kay former President Duterte – maging maingat at makatwiran sa binibitawang kritisismo.
Partikular ni tinukoy ni Pumaren ang himutok ng matandang Duterte kaugnay ng re-alignment na isinusulong ng Kamara sa P650 milyong halaga ng confidential at intelligence fund sa Office of the Vice President (OVP) at a Department of Education na kapwa pinamumunuan ni Vice President Sara Duterte.
“As the good former president should know, we, as lawmakers duly elected by our respective constituents to represent their interests, do not respond well to threats and intimidation. If his allegations have bases, then he should go to the proper channels and file charges,” matigas na pahayag ng Quezon City lawmaker.
“But to insinuate bodily harm or even the murder of a member of the House of Representatives, this has gone too far. We urge the former president to be cautious and reasonable in his criticisms. There are more peaceful and effective ways to send his message through,” bulalas ni Pumaren.
Para kay Pumaren na tumatayong kinatawan sa Kamara ng ikatlong distrito ng Quezon City, lubhang nakakalungkot ang mga maiinit na pahayag ng ex-president lalo pa’t nagtutulak ng pagkakawatak-watak ng Kamara ang aniya’y at walang basehang paninira sa imahe ng House of Representatives.
“We implore the good former president to seek the path of peaceful resolution instead of engaging in making threats and intimidation. We should unite, not divide. We are not going to be good examples to the people if we give in to these bickering,” hirit pa ni Pumaren.
Paglilinaw ng kongresista, kolektibong desisyon ng Kamara ang paglilipat ng kabuuang P1.23 bilyon confidential funds mula sa iba’t-ibang civilian agencies sa hangaring palakasin ang seguridad West Philippine Sea.
Sa pagkalos ng confidential fund sa mga tanggapan ng batang Duterte, nabigyan naman ng sapat at makatwirang pondo ang National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (P300 milyon); National Security Council (P100 milyon); Philippine Coast Guard (P200 milyon); Department of Transportation (P351 milyon); Government Assistance to Students and Teachers ng DepEd (P150 milyon); Cybercrime Prevention Investigation and Coordination Program ng DICT (P25 milyon); operasyon ng Department of Foreign Affairs (P30 milyon); Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources’ MOOE (P30 milyon); at MOOE ng Office of the Ombudsman(P50.4 milyon).