Romer Butuyan 
HINDI na napigilan ng isang mambabatas ang pagkadismaya sa patutsada hinggil sa umano’y hindi patas na pagdinig ng House Justice Committee sa impeachment complaint laban sa pangalawang pangulo.
Hamon ni Deputy Speaker at La Union 1st. District Rep. Paolo Ortega V sa kampo ni Vice President Sara Duterte, maglabas ng ebidensya sa sinasabing “pay-off” sa hanay ng mga mambabatas.
“If you have evidence of a ‘pay-off’ then name names. Identify the members. Present the proof. Execute sworn statements. File the appropriate charges. Otherwise, stop maligning the entire House with reckless accusations,” dismayadong pahayag ng ranking House official.
“Hindi puwedeng paratang lang nang paratang sa media at social media. Kung may ebidensya, ilabas ninyo. Kung wala, tumigil na kayo sa paninira,” dagdag pa niya.
Ginawa ni Ortega ang pahayag bilang reaksyon sa panibagong atake ng kampo ng bise-presidente matapos na bumoto ang 53 kongresistang sumang-ayon ideklarang may “probable cause” ang dalawang impeachment complaints laban kay Duterte.
Una nang ipinangangalandakan ng kampo ni VP Sara ang umano’y paggamit ng “pressure” at suhol para tiyakin sasang-ayon ang mga kongresista paspasan ang pagpapasa ng impeachment complaint sa senado na tatayong impeachment court.
“What pay-off? The record speaks for itself. The Committee’s unanimous vote was anchored on overwhelming documentary evidence—official records, sworn testimonies, and verifiable financial documents presented in open hearings,” giit ni Ortega.
“No amount of spin can erase the fact that congressmen—regardless of affiliation—were confronted with hard numbers, official audit findings, and financial trails that demand accountability. The vote was not coerced; it was compelled by evidence,” dugtong niya.
“To suggest that lawmakers abandoned their oath for a ‘pay-off’ is not only false—it is an insult to the collective judgment of the Committee. These are elected representatives who understand the gravity of impeachment. They voted based on what was proven, not on what was peddled outside the halls of Congress.”
Sinusugan din ni Deputy Speaker at Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin ang posisyon ni Ortega at tahasang sinabing “walang katotohanan ang ‘appearance fees’ at mas lalong walang pilitan.”
“Mabigat ang ebidensya na iniharap laban sa pangalawang pangulo at hindi nya ito nasagot dahil pinili niyang maging absent sa lahat ng hearings kaya hindi na katakataka na nagkaisa ang boto para sa probable cause,” punto pa ng lady ranking House official.
Sinabi ni Garin na inaasahan na ang walang basehan akusasyon para sirain ang kredibilidad ng House justice panel at ilihis ang usaping suportado ng ebidensya.
“This narrative is meant to distract from the evidence. But the record is clear—the vote was based on facts, documents, and sworn testimony. There was no pressure, no directive, and no money involved. What we saw was an independent body doing its constitutional duty,” diin ng Iloilo solon.
