Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Tuesday scored Sen. Rodante Marcoleta over his “hypocrisy” regarding parliamentary and inter-parliamentary courtesy, by disregarding and invoking these when they suit his interests.
Lacson said that while Marcoleta opposed inter-parliamentary courtesy in inviting House members including former Speaker Martin Romualdez to Blue Ribbon Committee hearings, he insisted that parliamentary courtesy be followed in rushing the approval of the budget of the Office of the Vice President in 2024.
“Such hypocrisy. Such a double standard. Such a farce that does not dignify an answer, Mr. President,'” Lacson said in a privilege speech.
In Filipino: Lacson, Binatikos ang ‘Hypocrisy’ ni Marcoleta sa Usaping Parliamentary at Inter-Parliamentary Courtesy
Lacson referred to Marcoleta’s questioning why inter-parliamentary courtesy was being invoked to “prevent” inviting Romualdez to the Blue Ribbon Committee’s hearings on anomalous flood control projects.
Yet, he said that in 2024, Marcoleta insisted in the House of Representatives to terminate the budget deliberations for the OVP, citing parliamentary courtesy.
“Parliamentary procedures, Madam Chair, grow from or are enriched by tradition, experiences, and precedence… You may not like the person. You may not like her presence here. But you have to respect the Office of the Vice President. That is all. Because that is guided by the tradition. Kahapon po, gaya po ng sinabi nila, wala ng ipinagtanong sa Office of the President and that is correct. That is in line with the tradition,” Lacson recalled Marcoleta saying at the time.
He questioned whether Marcoleta would stand by his position to disregard inter-parliamentary courtesy if a probe is initiated on his Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) over an alleged discrepancy.
Lacson noted that while Marcoleta and his legal team claimed he received the contributions for his senatorial bid before he became a candidate, he was still a public official at the time – a representative of SAGIP party list in the House – and thus could be liable for indirect bribery.
“Would the honorable senator stand by his position to disregard inter-parliamentary courtesy? If his former colleagues were to issue a subpoena, a show-cause order, or even a warrant of arrest, would he still argue about the relevance of inter-parliamentary courtesy?” he said.
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Lacson, Binatikos ang ‘Hypocrisy’ ni Marcoleta sa Usaping Parliamentary at Inter-Parliamentary Courtesy
Binatikos ni Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson nitong Martes si Sen. Rodante Marcoleta dahil sa aniya’y “hypocrisy” nito sa usapin ng parliamentary at inter-parliamentary courtesy, na umano’y ginagamit lamang o binabalewala depende sa kung kailan ito pabor sa kanyang interes.
Ani Lacson, tutol si Marcoleta sa paggamit ng inter-parliamentary courtesy sa pag-imbita sa mga miyembro ng Kamara — kabilang si dating Speaker Martin Romualdez — sa pagdinig ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, nguni’t iginiit naman nito na dapat sundin ang parliamentary courtesy nang minadali ang pag-apruba sa budget ng Office of the Vice President noong 2024.
“Such hypocrisy. Such a double standard. Such a farce that does not dignify an answer, Mr. President,'” ani Lacson sa kanyang privilege speech.
Tinukoy ni Lacson ang pagtatanong ni Marcoleta kung bakit ginagamit ang inter-parliamentary courtesy upang “pigilan” ang pag-imbita kay Romualdez sa mga pagdinig ng Blue Ribbon Committee kaugnay ng mga umano’y anomalya sa flood control projects.
Gayunman, sinabi ni Lacson na noong 2024, iginiit ni Marcoleta sa House of Representatives of the Philippines na sundin ang parliamentary courtesy at naghain pa ng mosyon upang tapusin ang deliberasyon sa budget ng Office of the Vice President.
“Parliamentary procedures, Madam Chair, grow from or are enriched by tradition, experiences, and precedence… You may not like the person. You may not like her presence here. But you have to respect the Office of the Vice President. That is all. Because that is guided by the tradition. Kahapon po, gaya po ng sinabi nila, wala ng ipinagtanong sa Office of the President and that is correct. That is in line with the tradition,” banggit ni Lacson sa sinabi ni Marcoleta noong panahong iyon.
Kinuwestiyon ni Lacson kung maninindigan si Marcoleta sa kanyang posisyon na balewalain ang inter-parliamentary courtesy kung magkaroon ng imbestigasyon sa kanya kaugnay ng umano’y discrepancy sa kanyang Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE).
Aniya, bagama’t iginiit ni Marcoleta at ng kanyang legal team na natanggap niya ang mga kontribusyon bago pa siya maging kandidato, isa pa rin siyang opisyal noong panahong iyon — bilang kinatawan ng SAGIP Party-list sa House of Representatives. Dahil dito, maaari siyang managot sa kasong indirect bribery.
“Would the honorable senator stand by his position to disregard inter-parliamentary courtesy? If his former colleagues were to issue a subpoena, a show-cause order, or even a warrant of arrest, would he still argue about the relevance of inter-parliamentary courtesy?” aniya.
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