Mindanao legislators expressed support to the House of Representatives led by Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez which has been criticized over its decision to realign some P1.23 billion in confidential funds.
In separate social media posts Reps. Ace Barbers of Surigao del Norte, Cheeno Miguel Almario of Davao Oriental, Maricar Zamora of Davao de Oro, and Francisco Jose Matugas of Surigao del Norte all extolled the successes of the chamber they belong to, in reaction to recent attacks from former president Rodrigo Duterte.
This as Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. of Manila appealed for calm and composure amid the heated national discussion about confidential funds as he urged the nation’s leaders to instead focus on the welfare of the Filipino people.
The former president recently criticized the House for redistributing the confidential funds of the offices headed by his daughter, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte-Carpio, to national security agencies that uphold the country’s security in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
“As one of the senior members of the House, I stand by the institution’s integrity and strict adherence to the law,” Barbers said.
He belied the elder Duterte’s claims that the Commission on Audit should take a look at the so-called “pork barrel” of Congress, a practice that has been rendered illegal by decisions of the Supreme Court.
Almario said Romualdez as the leader of the chamber has his unwavering support.
Almario added that Romualdez has “shown time and again his dedication to the Filipino people.”
Aklan Rep. Teodorico Haresco, vice chairperson of the House committee on appropriations, meanwhile lauded the House Speaker for his ‘consistent’ high approval ratings in the recent surveys.
Romualdez has increased satisfactory ratings up to 60 percent according to the results of the Pulso ng Pilipino tracking survey of The Issues and Advocacy Center conducted from September 23 to 30.
In another survey conducted by OCTA Research from July 22 to July 26, Romualdez had 54 percent trust approval ratings.
Haresco also acknowledged how the Speaker immediately provided assistance during the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Paeng which resulted to more than P1 billion in damage and 36 recorded deaths in Western Visayas last November 2022.
Haresco said that the Office of Speaker Romualdez has been a “reliable ally to Aklan,” providing immediate aid during the recent calamities of red tide and African Swine Fever outbreaks that affected the province.