Roque asks House panel to resolve ethics raps vs. Kabayan solon

Incoming presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Wednesday appealed to the House ethics committee to immediately resolve the complaints he filed against fellow Kabayan party-list Rep. Ron Salo.

In a press release, Roque said Salo is “unfit” to stay in the House of Representatives and hence must be expelled.

“Even if I cease to be a representative, Salo's acts against me were committed when I was still a member of the House and proves that he is unfit to stay in Congress,” Roque said.

Roque's appointment as presidential spokesperson, replacing Ernesto Abella, was announced by President Rodrigo Duterte last week. Roque will formally assume his post on November 6.

Roque said he filed a total of six ethics complaints against Salo this year for multiple violations of the House of Representatives Code of Conduct. He said all of his complaints have already been declared sufficient in form and substance last August.

The incoming spokesperson said his complaints stemmed from Salo's use of government resources to malign him, the disclosure of the disbarment case filed against him, and Salo's “illegitimate attempt” to grab his seat by “unlawfully removing” him from the Kabayan organization.

“Salo abused his power in order to further his own personal agenda against me. Regardless of his own design for personal vendetta, public funds and resources should never be used toward these ends,” Roque said.

Roque had also filed indirect contempt charges against Salo and the latter's chief of staff for violating the confidentiality clause of the Rules of Court in disbarment proceedings against lawyers. The said disbarment complaint was filed before the Supreme Court last January.

Roque also said Salo "conspired" with the other respondents claiming to be trustees and officers of the Kabayan party-list to "restrict my rights as a member of Congress, unlawfully malign the free exercise of my powers as a legislator, and illegitimately unseat me as an incumbent congressman."

Roque cited the purported party resolution dated January 12 which ordered his expulsion from Kabayan amid complaints on his behavior and statements.

Roque had earlier claimed that the voting delegates of Kabayan unanimously impeached and expelled Salo from the party during a special party congress in February.

Salo's response

In a statement, Salo said it was “unfortunate” for Roque to continue his “combative, ungentlemanly, and irresponsible behavior.”

“Kabayan party-list and I have long chosen to move on with our advocacies without Mr. Roque. We hope he would be able to move on and assume his new role without past baggage to be able to fully perform his functions as Presidential Spokesperson,” Salo said

In turn, Roque gave his own response to Salo's statement, saying that "it is perfectly civil, proper, and correct to ensure that the wheels of justice work" during the deliberations on the ethics complaints he has previously filed.

"Recent developments do not extinguish his liabilities and offenses," Roque said. — Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez/BM, GMA News