Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri on Sunday, December 3 urged the House of Representatives to continue its investigation on the alleged controversy surrounding House Speaker Martin Romualdez’s travel expenses. 

As far as he is concerned, Zubiri said he has no knowledge of an alleged Senate employee leaking information that Romualdez’s allegedly spent P1.8-billion for his travels for 2023. 

Zubiri is referring to the allegation made by a certain Jeffrey “Ka Eric” Celiz, a broadcaster of Sonshine Media Network Inc. (SMNI), who earlier apologized for insinuating in the program “Laban Kasama ang Bayan” about Romualdez’s extravagant travel spending.

“I have no knowledge whatsoever of anyone from the Senate leaking information to any reporter on any House matter,” Zubiri said in a statement.

“Until the concerned resource speaker names a Senate employee, there is no reason to believe that these allegations are anything more than intrigues being sown to create controversy and fake news,” the Senate leader said.

Zubiri said he respects interparliamentary courtesy and that he “would not want to put a rift in the very strong partnership that we have with the leadership and the members of the House.”

“I would suggest that the House continue their investigation until they get to the bottom of this accusation, and press for the concerned person to reveal the name of their alleged source from the Senate,” he said.

“Otherwise, the House can cite them in contempt. If they can prove it is an employee of the Senate, then we will initiate disciplinary action on those involved,” the Senate chief said. 

Celiz, in his program, claimed that the information was relayed to him by a Senate employee but he refused to reveal his source. 

The SMNI broadcaster cited Republic Act No. 53 or the “Sotto Law” which protects journalists from revealing news sources as his reason for refusing to divulge more information. 

Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales, Jr. mentioned RA No. 6173, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, specifically Section 4, Paragraph C, which provides that public officials and employees shall remain true to the people at all times. 

“If you do not tell us the identity of the source, the employee is deceiving the people he is serving,” Gonzales had said.

For his part, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco disclosed that the expenses of the Office of the Speaker for foreign travels from January to October 2023—including the staff of the Office of the Speaker—amounted to only P4.347-million.