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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Barbers vouches for House's integrity, says solons followed SC 'pork barrel' ruling

Barbers vouches for House's integrity, says solons followed SC 'pork barrel' ruling

Published Oct 17, 2023 08:12 am

At A Glance

  • Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers has vouched for the integrity of the House of Representatives amid the tirades launched last week by former president Rodrigo Duterte.  

FB_IMG_1679106603664.jpgSurigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers (Facebook)

 

 

 

 

 

 

A three-term congressman from Mindanao has vouched for the integrity of the House of Representatives amid the tirades launched last week by former president Rodrigo Duterte.  

"As one of the senior members of the House, I stand by the institution’s integrity and strict adherence to the law," Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said in a statement. 

"To the best of my knowledge, no confidential and intelligence fund was ever approriated to the House of Representatives, as validated by the COA (Commission on Audit) audit reports," said the senior Nacionalista Party (NP) stalwart.  

"Likewise," Barbers added, "Since the Supreme Court’s (SC) declaration of the invalidity and illegality of the so-called 'pork barrel' funds, the House abided and all representatives have accepted the ruling," he said. 

Ex-president Duterte came out in a television interview last week to assail Congress, which he called "the most rotten institution" in the country. 

He claimed that pork barrel was "unlimited" in the House, and that he wanted House Speaker Martin Romualdez and the rest of the chamber audited to find out how taxpayers' money was spent.  

House Secretary General Reginald Velasco bared days later that the COA itself, as per an Oct. 2 audit report, found no disallowances, no notice of suspension, and no notice of charge against the House under Romualdez.  

Barbers, chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, reiterated his support for the leadership of Romualdez, who has proven to be President Marcos' top ally in the legislature. 

"I join hands with my colleagues in support of the leadership of Speaker Martin Romualdez and the priority legislations of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, aimed towards advancing the interests of the people, uplifting their lives through measures that improve the economy, safeguarding our territory and ensuring our safety in the face of threats against our nation’s peace and independence," Barbers said. 

"Towards these ends, I give my full cooperation to the institution in order to continue with the task of forging peace and prosperity for our people," he said.

 

Related Tags

Robert Ace Barbers pork barrel fund pork barrel Confidential funds Rodrigo Duterte
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