Abante flags Luistro over 'her' remark on Marcoleta

Manila Representative Benny Abante questioned Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro for referring to SAGIP Party-list Rep. Paolo Marcoleta as "her" and "she" during a hearing at the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

1-Rider Party-list Rep. Rodge Gutierrez later asked the House justice committee, which Luistro heads, to strike the conversation from the record for being "not germane to the discussion."

Luistro later corrected herself.

"As a response to the honorable Abante, we are addressing now the honorable Marcoleta as he, him, his, and the chair stands corrected," she said.

During the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, Marcoleta flagged Luistro for highlighting that he is not a member of the House panel when called to make a manifestation.

"Honorable Marcoleta is a non-member of the Justice Committee, but of course, we recognize her opportunity to manifest her position as well," Luistro said.

Marcoleta answered: "Thank you for highlighting my being a non-member, but nonetheless, I have every right to speak."

Luistro clarified that she merely reminded him of the House rules that non-members of a committee "cannot raise a motion and cannot vote."

"I did not say that I am about to make a motion. Wala po akong sinabi," Marcoleta added.

In his manifestation, the lawmaker dared the House panel to open the box containing the income tax return of Duterte and her husband, Manases Carpio, but said legislators should make sure they are not violating any law.

He also said there should be an "acceptable reason" for the move, misquoting a movie line from Piolo Pascual's movie. He was later called out by Akbayan Party-list Rep. Perci Cendana.

"May nabanggit kanina na Popoy and Basha na line si Rep. Marcoleta. In-attribute niya ang explanation kay Popoy. Hindi po siya kay Popoy, Ito ay kay Papa P., kay Piolo Pascual sa pelikulang Starting Over Again," Cendana said.

(Rep. Marcoleta mentioned a movie line with Popoy and Basha. He attributed a line asking for an explanation to Popoy. But it is not from Popoy, it was from Piolo Pascula in Starting Over Again.)

"I hope that as we decide on this matter, this will not lead us to Starting Over Again," he added.

Voting 6-38-0 votes, the House committee junked the motion to open the box containing the documents from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

Last week, BIR Commissioner Charlito Mendoza said the ITRs, which were covered by a subpoena issued by the House panel, may only be disclosed when the request is in aid of legislation and must be examined in an executive session, not in a public hearing attended by media. —LDF, GMA News