House of Representatives (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

A complaint received by the House of Representatives sought the imposition of disciplinary action against Bohol 1st district Rep. Edgardo Chatto for allegedly “exert[ing] influence” over Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Antonia Loyzaga-Yulo in an ongoing water permit dispute. 

The plaintiffs who sent the prayer to the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges were the Bohol Clean Water Alliance (BCWA), and a certain Emmanuel Ramasola, and Erastus Leopando. 

Specifically, they urged the ethics panel to recommend before the 312-strong lower chamber that Rep. Chatto be "disciplined for violation of the code of conduct and for disorderly behavior, and if warranted suspend or expel said Representative Chatto". 

The complainants said that in the budget hearing of the DENR last Sept.2, 2022, Chatto showed “inordinate interest” on the pending water permit dispute between Richli Corporation and Balilihan town where his wife, Pureza Chatto, was the mayor. 

Citing the transcript of the budget hearing, they claimed that the congressman “subtly recommended to the DENR secretary to give preference to LGUs over private entities". 

The complainants alleged the Boholano's manifestation during the hearing “ineluctably referred to the pending dispute over the water permit granted to LGU-Balilihan and a private entity, Richli Corporation". 

They added in the 21-page verified complaint received last Aug. 10 by the ethics panel that Rep. Chatto “has shown improper interest in water permit granted by the NWRB [National Water Resources Board] during his term in office". 

The complaint against Rep. Chatto stemmed from the conditional water permit issued to the town of Balilihan, Bohol, which allowed it to draw water from a spring that was shown to be located in the adjacent town of Sevilla. 

Rep. Chatto “also intervened in a pending matter before the NWRB where he may be called upon to act on account of his office. As Representative of First District of Bohol and Chairman of the House Committee on Climate Change and a Member of the Committee on Appropriations, he plays a role in determining the budget of the NWRB and the DENR of which it is an attached agency,” the plaintiffs alleged. 

They further claimed that the solon’s actions “unduly influenced the outcome of the pending motion for reconsideration filed by LGU Balilihan represented by his wife". 

The complainants further claimed that Rep. Chatto “violated the spirit if not the letter of the provisions of the code of conduct,” which prohibits House members from “personally appear[ing] as counsel before any court of justice, the electoral tribunals, or any quasi-judicial or administrative body or be directly or indirectly financially interested in any contract with, or in any franchise or special privilege granted by the government, or any subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof, including any government-owned or controlled corporation, or its subsidiaries, during the Member's term of office.” 

The same House rules on the code of conduct also bars sitting congressmen from “interven[ing] in any matter before any office of the government for personal pecuniary benefit or where the member may be called upon to act on account of the member's office".

Rep. Chatto was sought for comment on the complaint Monday afternoon, Aug. 14. He has yet to respond as of this posting. 

The Committee on Ethics and Privileges is chaired by COOP NATCCO Party-list Rep. Felimon Espares.