House majority bloc censures Bello

MANILA, Philippines -  Members of the majority bloc of the House of Representatives yesterday censured Akbayan party-list Rep. Walden Bello for the disparaging remarks he made against Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last year.  

Arroyo’s allies in the minority bloc had filed a complaint seeking punishment for Bello’s unparliamentary conduct. 

Valenzuela City Rep. Magtanggol Gunigundo, on the other hand, filed a motion to dismiss the complaint filed by the minority bloc.

Ethics committee chair and minority member Bohol Rep. Erico Aumentado, however, upheld the complaint.

House Majority Leader and Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali Gonzales II, on the other hand, said that the ethics committee may no longer deliberate on the complaint because the disparaging remarks Bello made in his privilege speech last year were already stricken off the record.                        

Senior Deputy Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas supported Gonzales’ argument, pointing out that even if the ethics panel votes to sanction Bello, it would be very difficult to get a two-thirds vote in plenary controlled by the majority to implement the punishment.                                                

Fariñas, however, openly scolded Bello for his unparliamentary conduct.                                                          

“We will not be able to come up with the two-thirds vote but we should remind Congressman Bello that there are parameters for respect,” Fariñas said.

“As they say, there is honor even among thieves, so there is also honor among representatives of the people.”                                               

Bello, however, replied “I’m not a thief” but that he was not sure of Arroyo’s status in that regard.

‘Unrepentant’

The remark raised a howl anew in the House. “I don’t understand the point of such a statement (from Bello). He is unrepentant,” Davao del Sur Rep. Marc Douglas Cagas said.                                      Administration lawmakers Nueva Ecija Rep. Rodolfo Antonino and Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco stepped in to prevent the rushed dismissal of the complaint.           

Zambales Rep. Milagros Magsaysay and Cagas said the ethics complaint against Bello should be above partisan politics because it involves an attack by a congressman on a fellow lawmaker.                  

“Let us not resort to technicalities here. Do you want to be insulted too and nothing would be done about that?” Magsaysay said.                                                                           

Aumentado ruled that the case be held for further study.

“This is a serious matter that should not be railroaded. We will rule on the motion in a matter of time,” he said.