Jikiri representing 2 legislative districts

MANILA, Philippines - This is in response to the article of Delon Porcalla published last February 5, 2010, entitled “Muslim lawmaker biggest spender in House”.      

Firstly, Mr. Porcalla did not even bother to get our side of the story. Such act runs counter to a very basic rule of journalism ethics. He might have discovered that Congressman Jikiri spent less on a legislative district basis than most members of the House of Representatives.

Secondly, Mr. Porcalla should have made further investigation. He would have discovered that Representative Yusop H. Jikiri is the duly elected Congressman of the First District of Sulu and is at the same time the Legislative Caretaker for the Lone District of Basilan. Thus, he is serving two (2) legislative districts.

Based on the Records of the House of Representatives, Rep. Maria Isabelle Climaco of the First District of Zamboanga City relinquished her position as then the caretaker for Basilan. With strong recommendations from all the political groups in the Province of Basilan, Speaker Prospero Nograles then issued a Special Order dated April 21, 2008 appointing Rep. Jikiri as the Legislative Liaison Officer for the Lone District of Basilan.

Due to the said appointment, he was given additional staff, consultants and allowances for his additional task as Legislative Caretaker of the Province of Baslan in order to deliver better and appropriate services for the people of Basilan. This resulted to the increase in expenditures under the Office of Congressman Jikiri.

Thirdly, Rep. Jikiri was designated by President Arroyo as the Amerul Hajj, the head of the Philippine delegation in the 2008 pilgrimage to Mecca, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This further entailed additional expenditures for the office.

Lastly, as the Chairman of the Committee on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity, he brought the services of the House of Representatives to the Province of Sulu when he conducted consultative hearings in the Municipality of Jolo.

Upon closer examination, Congressman Jikiri might have spent less than most members of the House of Representatives considering that he is handling two legislative districts.

I hope that the Philippine STAR will print this response. — (Sgd.) Atty. Edil T. Baddiri, Chief of Staff, Office of Congressman Yusop Jikiri