Dumistansya si Presidential son at Deputy Speaker Paolo Duterte sa hidwaan ng mga kapwa kongresista sa gitna ng usapin ng Kamara para sa 2021 budget.
Pahayag ito ng Davao representative matapos magbanggaan sina Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. at Deputy Speaker Luis Raymund Villafuerte dahil sa usapin ng alokasyon sa infrastructure ng kanilang mga distrito.
“As Congress continues to be hounded by the issue of budget — something that finds its way up to the current House leadership, how it treats its members, how it approves allocations and budgets with fairness or lack of it — let me reiterate my position: I do not want to get involved, however, I wish to help my fellow lawmakers find answers to their questions or remedies to the budget that they proposed for their people,” ani Duterte sa isang statement.
Aminado si Duterte na maraming mambabatas ang nag-endorso para siya ang lapitan sa usapin ng district allocation, pero mas makabubuti umano na umiwas siya para sa delicadeza bilang anak ng presidente.
“I could only hope that Congress and its members will be able to resolve this issue before everything goes out of hand, before it could bludgeon the credibility of the institutions and inflict damage beyond repair.”
Inamin naman ng opisyal na tinext niya si Committee on Appropriations chairman Eric Yap para sabihan ang Mindanao bloc na ideklarang bakante ang mga posisyon ng House Speaker at Deputy Speaker.
Bunsod din ito sa lumutang na akusasyon na may kinalaman sa pagpapalit speakership nina Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano at Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco ang issue sa budget.
“The text message that I sent to another lawmaker — and is now making the rounds — was an expression of my personal dismay upon hearing the concerns of my fellow lawmakers. It was the same message that I sent after one congressman from the Visayas bloc dragged my name into the issue even after I have already strongly made myself clear over this issue.”
Para sa nakababatang Duterte, ang mga kapwa miyembro niya na sa House of Representatives ang dapat na mag-resolba sa issue ng budget.
“If the members of Congress will push for a change in House leadership, as a reaction to their sentiments, obviously I would be among the casualties because I am a deputy speaker. I am ready to accept the consequences.”
Kung maaalala, nagkasundo sina Cayetano at Velasco na maghati sa termino bilang lider ng Mababang Kapulungan ng Kongreso.
PANGULONG DUTERTE BALIK DAVAO
Samantala, kinumpirma ni Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque na balik Davao City ang Pangulong Duterte nitong weekend.
Bukas nakatakda raw itong humarap muli sa isang public announcement.
