A resource person in Congress is a guest, but the same is expected to show due respect to the members of the House regardless of the resource person’s position, political color, and breeding – or the absence of it.
Hence, Vice-President Sara Duterte has displayed raw arrogance while abusing her position, and ignorance to the rules of the House. As resource person, one should merely answer queries directly and does not have any right to ask questions to the members of a committee.
VP Sara would not defend the OVP’s budget, but instead would, like the parrot in her book, answer with “I would like to forego the opportunity to defend the budget in a question-and-answer format. I will leave it up to the House to decide on the budget submitted.”
But even Rep. Stella Quimbo was scared to make her angry. A disgusting display of power and influence not from a president, but from one who lusts to become one someday.
She should never be given the chance to win an election again, for today she has shown her true colors and this has turned off so many Filipinos, given her lack of good manners and proper breeding so needed from people like her.
She even took notice of Rep. France Castro’s presence even as she was “convicted of child abuse.”
And in spite of her vast powers as second in command, she still has the mentality of a carabao in the ricefield who loves to wallow in the mud. We know of so many ‘probinsyanos’ who have no lack in correct behavior, but Sara is one who was absent in class when GMRC was being taught that day.
She was stonewalling the whole time which signals the lack of accountability from officials like her, thus undermining the public’s trust and confidence. And since she could not explain how she spent P125 million of taxpayer’s money in 11 days, an impeachment should be seriously considered now by members of the House.
Believe you me, this move will get a majority nod from congressmen.
As true as the House is a big boys’ club, the machismo spirit there still prevails and these alpha males would never allow themselves to be intimidated by a female who sees to it that punching a sheriff is fine and dandy.
I repeat, this notice of disallowance by the Commission on Audit (COA) on the unexplained P125 million should now be the basis for her impeachment.
But, if the House of Representatives would not initiate impeachment proceedings, the citizenry should insist on her resignation. It is high time we show her that she can never be trusted especially when the matter involves huge amounts of money.
We deserve a better Vice-President.
Quiboloy’s handcuffs are waiting and Roque’s hard to explain wealth
The ongoing drama in Buhangin, Davao City is as temporary as one’s writing on sand, soon to be washed away by the tide of fakery. Apollo Quiboloy’s days are numbered, and I predict this to be only hours away until he is caught from his cave.
But the trouble he has caused to thousands of Filipinos will remain for some time, what with the rest of the KOJC members who stand to continue calling for the toppling of the Marcos administration. I don’t think this will come to a halt even after he is in prison.
So tell me, what good has Quiboloy done for the people but to mislead them into a waiting ravine of deception.
And then photos of him with Rodrigo and Sara Duterte have since circulated over social media.
Remember, he is wanted by no less than the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and not just local authorities. So this is not just a local court case but a serious one.
On a similar note, have you noticed Harry Roque’s strange behavior these days?
Recently, he bragged about a swelling of some 50,000 people with him as he called for the gathering of people to prepare marching to Malacañang and demand the resignation of President Marcos Jr.
So where is that march? I was in Malacañang today and all I saw were vendors and church-goers from next-door St. Jude Church. Harry, as expected, is again a disappointment.
But it looks like he’s been laughing his way to the bank these days considering the sudden ballooning of his bank account from P125,300 in 2014, increased to P3,125,000 in 2015, and skyrocketed to P68,775,800 in 2018.
All these just between the years 2014 to 2018, not to mention he was one of the top contributors to Sara Duterte’s vice-presidential campaign with a donation of a whopping P36 million.
So where’d he get all that money? Someone should remind him about RA 6713 which says, “Public officials and employees shall at all times be accountable to the people and shall discharge their duties with utmost responsibility, integrity, competence, and loyalty, act with patriotism and justice, lead modest lives, and uphold public interest over personal interest.”
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Tomorrow, Thursday August 29 is the 3rd episode of my program “Leslie Bocobo Live! Aired from 1:00-2:00PM over government station Radyo Pilipinas (RP1) and livestreamed over Facebook and Twitter X. My special guest once again will be CEZA Secretary Katrina Ponce Enrile.
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Random Memorandum: Confidential funds are used to circumvent public scrutiny by allotting funds under an item labeled as “confidential” under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) without the need to state what the funds are for. Normally, those who abuse it will have to account for it sooner or later.
Factoid: Diosdado Macapagal loved to be called the “Poor boy from Lubao,” but ironically had little popularity with the people.
(Leslie Bocobo is a former Special Assistant to the Secretary at the Office of the Press Secretary, Malacañang, and a former Public Affairs Director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources)
Is the Integrated Bar of the Philippines asleep? Seems there are Lawyers that sorely need to be disbarred permanently.