House panel to tackle Bertiz-NAIA incident, complaint vs. MATA party-list in Oct. 3 meeting

The House ethics panel is set to discuss on Wednesday the incident at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) involving ACTS OFW party-list Representative John Bertiz III, as well as a complaint against Ang Mata ay Alagaan (MATA) party-list group over its allegedly questionable health project.

This was confirmed to reporters by the staff of AGRI party-list Rep. Delphine Gan Lee, chair of the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges, on Tuesday.

"Yes, we confirm may meeting po ang Ethics Committee bukas to discuss various complaints filed before the committee. We will also discuss the NAIA incident of Cong. Bertiz," the staff said in a text message.

Bertiz drew flak from netizens after a CCTV security video of the NAIA incident that went viral showed him supposedly refusing to remove his shoes as part of security protocol at the airport.

Members of the House minority bloc, to which Bertiz belongs, may initiate a complaint before the Committee on Ethics and Privileges against the lawmaker if no outside party would do so, said its leader Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez.

Bertiz has already apologized for the incident, saying that he is also ready to face any investigation into the matter.

"I'm very much willing to submit myself to any investigation just to be fair to the public," Bertiz told reporters in a press conference on Monday.

Medical missions

Also to be taken up during the House ethics panel meeting is the letter-complaint to investigate the alleged anomalous activities of MATA party-list and its representative, Tricia Nicole Catera.

The letter-complaint was sent in late August by Pinoy Aksyon for Governance and Environment (Pinoy Aksyon) convenor Bency Ellorin.

Pinoy Aksyon had earlier said it was considering a disqualification case against MATA after receiving reports that the party-list group conducted free eye clinics with unlicensed doctors.

It has also allegedly distributed free eyecare products that were not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Pinoy Aksyon has already asked the Commission on Elections, the Department of Health, and the Professional Regulations Commission to separately investigate the party-list group. The FDA later revealed it has already launched its probe into MATA's medical missions.

MATA was one of 40 party-lists named in 2010 as possibly being used by government officials, police and military officials, and businessmen to win a seat in Congress.

Harry Roque complaints

Apart from the Bertiz incident and the MATA letter-complaint, the House ethics panel will also discuss the six sworn complaints filed by former Kabayan party-list Representative Harry Roque against Kabayan party-list Representative Ron Salo.

In November last year, Roque appealed to the House ethics committee to immediately resolve the complaints he filed against Salo.

Roque had filed a total of six ethics complaints against Salo in 2017 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 in August 2017.

Roque, who later became presidential spokesman, 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. — MDM, GMA News