Lagman hits back at Bong Go for calling his image 'beyond repair'

Albay Representative Edcel Lagman on Wednesday hit back at Senator Bong Go for calling the former’s image “beyond repair” as he defended his brainchild, the Malasakit Centers.

In a statement, Lagman slammed Go for wasting his first privilege speech which he should have used to promote his causes by taking a swipe at those who criticize the Malasakit Centers.

“Go’s ballistic reaction was unprovoked because I did not even mention his name when I asked the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) during its budget briefing to provide the legal basis for its funding the Malasakit Centers and for PCSO to investigate their effectiveness,” Lagman said.

“Paucity of merit and reason cannot be concealed by unparliamentary language and malevolent innuendoes,” he added.

According to Lagman, Malasakit Centers are not “one-stop” shops for post-confinement financial assistance but merely referral outlets to the main local offices of participating government agencies.

He claimed that patients availing services from Malasakit Centers also have to wait in long queues “because the representatives in the centers do not have the authority nor discretion to make assessments either for partial or full payment of hospital bill balances.”

Lagman had earlier said that Malasakit Centers had been used as partisan fronts.

During his privilege speech on Tuesday, Go said the program was meant to help the poor and not the politicians who want to have a better public image.

"Prangkahin ko na rin po kayo, your image is beyond repair. Hindi po ikakaayos ng pagmumukha ninyo ang pagkontra ninyo sa interes ng mga Pilipino," he said.

Go denied Lagman’s claim that the Malasakit Centers are being used as a “partisan tool” for his (Go's) own advantage, and even claimed that it was the Albay congressman who was forwarding his interest by using his position.

He alleged that Lagman has been letting patients in his own house to avail of medical benefits, just so he could show them it was him who actually helps them.

But Lagman dismissed Go’s claim as “completely unfounded and contrived,” saying these patients go instead to his office to talk to his staff.

“I have always been a pro-poor legislator long before the advent of the Malasakit Centers and my legislative performance and accomplishments speak of my advocacies for the disadvantaged and marginalized,” he said.

“I have never required indigent patients to go to my house to get referrals for financial assistance because ever since they invariably approach my staff in my congressional and district offices,” he added. —KBK, GMA News