Deputy Speaker Calls for Clarity on Demolition Job
House Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno urged Senate President Francis Escudero to directly name the individuals in Congress responsible for the alleged demolition job against him. Speaking on Tuesday, Puno emphasized the importance of identifying specific lawmakers rather than making broad accusations that cast a shadow over the entire chamber.
“Senator Chiz is my friend, so will I also be dragged into that accusation? No, let us not resort to that,” Puno said during a press briefing. He stressed that naming names would allow for direct confrontation and resolution, preventing unwarranted damage to the reputation of all members of the House.
Escudero’s Allegations and Puno’s Response
Escudero previously claimed that members of the House disappointed with the outcome of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment case were behind a demolition campaign against him. These accusations came amid rumors linking Escudero to a campaign donor involved in a major government flood control contract.
Puno expressed skepticism about these claims, particularly the rumor about the campaign donor. “I do not know who he is pointing to. And I do not know what kind of demolition job he is referring to,” he remarked. He urged Escudero to disclose the names to address the matter properly and avoid generalized blame.
Focus Should Shift to Budget Issues, Not Rumors
Rather than getting caught up in social media rumors, Puno suggested that Escudero should concentrate on addressing serious concerns raised by Senate Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III. Sotto highlighted questionable last-minute insertions in the 2025 national budget, describing them as potentially scandalous and akin to pork barrel schemes.
“If the claims made by people like Senator Sotto are true, he should address these issues,” Puno said. He added that the House has fulfilled its responsibilities and that identifying those responsible within Congress is the next step.
PhilHealth Subsidy Remains Unchanged in House Version
Puno reiterated that the controversial P74 billion subsidy changes for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) did not originate from the House of Representatives. He shared that he reviewed the House’s version of the 2025 budget bill, which maintained the PhilHealth subsidy intact.
While he acknowledged Senator Panfilo Lacson’s concerns about the subsidy adjustments, Puno expressed confidence that the House did not make these changes. “None of these came from the House, that is what I am 100 percent sure,” he said, noting the existence of official documents to support this claim.
Escudero’s Budget Insertions and House’s Reaction
This is not the first time Escudero has pointed fingers at the House regarding a demolition job. In late July, he denied allegations of making multi-billion-peso insertions in the 2025 budget, calling these accusations a demolition attempt by the House.
The Senate President faced criticism after reports surfaced claiming he inserted P142.7 billion into the budget during bicameral conference committee deliberations. Escudero questioned the varying figures and the widening scope of blame, from himself alone to implicating the entire Senate.
House spokesperson Princess Abante responded by questioning why Escudero frequently directs suspicion towards the House and urged him to address issues directly rather than casting broad accusations.
Connections to House Appropriations Chairperson’s Removal
Escudero later linked the removal of former House Appropriations Chair Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co to controversies surrounding the 2025 budget. Co had resigned in January 2025, citing health reasons, but questions lingered about the timing and circumstances.
Budget Controversies and Congressional Disputes
Since the bicameral conference committee finalized the 2025 budget, several concerns have been raised. Davao City 3rd District Rep. Isidro Ungab and former President Rodrigo Duterte claimed the budget was illegal due to blanks in the bicameral report ratified by the House.
Former Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo, acting chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations at the time, clarified that the blanks were placeholders for final calculations and that the Senate’s technical staff prepared the bicameral report. She also noted that adjustments were detailed in the Senate committee’s report.
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