House denies alleged demolition job vs Escudero

The House of Representatives on Wednesday dismissed the claim of Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero that lawmakers from the lower chamber were allegedly behind a supposed demolition job against him. 

“Siguro sa sitwasyong ito, 'it’s not me, it’s you' na 'yung isyu niyan. Hindi na po kami ang may problema po dito,” House spokesperson Atty. Princess Abante told GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita in an interview. 

(Maybe in this situation, the issue is 'it's not me, it's you' already. We’re not the ones with the problem here.)

“Wala pong nanggagaling sa House. Ang tutok po ng House of Representatives ay ang trabaho at tungkulin nito. Ang trabaho ng House ay hindi po magsimula ng anumang away kahit kanino man,” she added.

(Nothing is coming from the House. The House of Representatives is focused on its work and duties. The House’s job is not to start any fights with anyone.)

Escudero on Tuesday made the allegation after his campaign contributor in the 2022 elections was revealed as among the only 15 contractors that obtained 20% of the total P545 billion budget of flood control projects.

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. called the awarding of the 20% of flood control projects to only 15 contractors as “disturbing.”

"For the record, wala akong kinalaman sa pag-identify, paggawa ng program of work, pag-bid, pag-award, pagbayad, pag-inspeksyon ng anumang proyekto sa pamahalaan sa Sorsogon man o sa labas ng lalawigan ng Sorsogon," the Senate president earlier said.

(For the record, I have nothing to do with identifying, drafting a program of work, bidding, awarding, paying, or inspecting any government project whether in Sorsogon or outside the province of Sorsogon.)

Escudero said that behind a "demolition job" against him were those in favor of the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, particularly from the House.

Abante said Escudero should name the solons from the lower body whom he was referring to. 

“Siguro magandang mapangalanan po kung sino 'yung tinutukoy niya kasi napakaraming members ng House,” Abante said. 

(Maybe it would be good if he could name who he was referring to because there are so many members of the House.)

“Mahirap naman pong mag-blanket, damay sa issues na ibinabato laban po kay Senate President na hindi naman din po House ang kinalaman,” she added.

(It is tricky to blanket, implicate lawmakers in the issues being thrown against the Senate President, which are not related to the House.)

The Senate — with 19 votes — voted on August 6 to transfer to the archives the articles of impeachment against Duterte. Four voted against it while one abstained.

“Wala naman pong naging diskusyon sa anuman pong iniisip ni Senate President. So hindi ko po alam bakit kailangan maturo ang mga members ng House na nag-initiate ng impeachment,” Abante said. 

(There was no discussion about what the Senate President was thinking. So I don't know why the House members who initiated the impeachment need to be accused of that.) 

“Wala naman pong personal na layunin ang mga members ng House dito. Ang gusto lang naman po ng House para sa impeachment ay 'yung pananagutan,” she added.

(The House members have no personal motives here. All that the House wants from the impeachment is accountability.) —KG, GMA Integrated News