Jeffrey "Ka Eric" Celiz (Ninja the Bloggerz Facebook)

SMNI program anchor Jeffrey "Ka Eric" Celiz admitted to the House Committee on Legislative Franchises Thursday, Nov. 30 that his "source was wrong" in connection with his commentary that Speaker Martin Romualdez has spent P1.8 billion in his travels. 

Celiz--upon grilling by House members--further told the panel chaired by Paranaque City 2nd district Rep. Gus Tambunting that his source for the false information was a "government employee in the Senate". The source is male. 

"We are very much willing to admit that indeed the source was wrong. In this committee hearing, we are very appreciative of the guidance provided by us by the data," said Celiz, who along with co-achor Lorraine Badoy arrived late for the hearing. 

By "data", Celiz was referring  to the financial report on foreign travel expenses for the Office of the Speaker, as presented by House Secretary General Reginald Velasco. 

"For the Office of the Speaker, the total expenses from January to October 2023 is P4,347,712.58," Velasco said. 

Citing this, Surigao del Sur 2nd district Rep. Johnny Pimentel said in his interpellation of Celiz: "Sa tingin niyo ba tumutugma yung P1.8 billion doon sa P4.3 million? (Do you think the P1.8 billion matches with the P4.3 million?)...It's a simple arithmetic. Napakalayo naman po (It's so far off)." 

"In this case, it's very clear, you didn't vet your source," Pimentel said. 

Despite erring big time, Celiz still tried to take the high road by saying, "That's why we need vetting. Kaya nga hindi namin ilinabas as a special report or news (That's why we didn't release it as as special report or news). It was a commentary question." 

He said the P1.8-billion travel expenses figure that he linked to the Speaker was mentioned by two sources--his longtime source from the Senate, and an anonymous source that merely sent him a personal message. 

"Pareho silang mali (They were both wrong)," stressed Pimentel, who rejected Celiz's attempts in putting a positive spin on the situation. 

"Now since nagkamali kayo (since you were wrong), are you willing to recant your statements and apologize to Congress?" the veteran solon asked the "Laban Kasama Ang Bayan" program host. 

"Am I ready to personally apologize to Speaker Martin Romualdez, and to the House of Representatives for the effect of insult on that kind of questioning, which is now being given proper enlightening? Yes sir, my answer is in the affirmative," Celiz said.