TWO Manila Congressmen stressed that they cannot be dictated upon by anyone and will remain as independent, free minds as Representatives of the districts they represent in the House of Representatives.
Congressmen Joel Chua (3rd district) and Rolan Valeriano (2nd district) said this, after their reaction was sought by the media regarding allegations that they are being dictated upon by House Speaker Martin Romualdez, during their guesting at the Manila City Hall Reporters’ Association (MACHRA) ‘Balitaan’ news forum held at the Harbor View Restaurant in Ermita on Tuesday morning.
The two happen to be among those investigating the alleged misuse of confidential funds by the office of Vice President Sara Duterte, falling under the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability which Chua heads and where Valeriano is a member.
“Kung titignan natin survey, mahigit 60 percent sang-ayon sa ginagawa ng QuadComm, so wala pong ibang pupuwedeng magdikta sa amin kundi ang taumbayan. Kasi kahit ano sabihin ng Speaker, kung ang tao ay di sang-ayon eh balewala lahat. Kami ay matatakot dahil representative lang kami ng taumbayan,” Chua said.
Chua added that looking at the surveys, the support for the QuadComm is overwhelming specially in Metro Manila, noting that those attacking the House are usually trolls or vloggers who are paid for doing so.
He assured that on their part, they will just continue doing their job, citing the issues that unexpectedly came out of the inquiries being made.
“Gagawin lang namin ang trabaho namin kasi nakita naman namin na maraming isyung lumabas. Nung una namin ginawa ito, wala naman sa isip naming me mga lalabas na isyu. Ang nasa isip lang talaga namin is in aid of legislation at marami na nga tayong nakita na mga problemang dapat ayusin. Si Speaker naman po hindi nman po nakikipag-usap sa amin kasi kung nakikipag-usap siya sa mga Congressman, puputok na yan at kung lahat kakausapin niya, mahirap din naman po ‘yun. Ang mga Congressman galing sa iba-ibang luar at partido,” he pointed out.
Valeriano for his part, said: “hindi ako nadidiktahan pag me nakikita akong mali, aayawan at tatayuan ko.”
He cited his previous tiffs with a sheriff and even the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) where he and Chua fought the unjustified demolitions and wanton operations in Manila during the pandemic. Valeriano currently heads the Committee on Metro Manila Development in Congress.
Valeriano cited as an example his political situation in Manila, thus”: “Kagaya ngayon, andito ako sa Asenso Manileno, kung pumunta ako sa kabila, baka me pera ako dahil talagang umaagos ang pera dun at wala sana akong kalaban, dahil hindi ako lalagyan ni mayora ng kalaban sigurado. Pero mas pinili ko ang Asenso. Wala talaga kahit zero (funding) ako dito, nagkaroon pa ‘ko ng kalaban. Pag mali, ang hirap kainin… hindi ako nadidiktahan ng kahit na sino.. pag tingin ko mali, mali,” Valeriano stressed.
