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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Pag kampanyahan, samin kayo lumalapit': Suarez claps back at senators for belittling congressmen 

'Pag kampanyahan, samin kayo lumalapit': Suarez claps back at senators for belittling congressmen 

Published Jan 31, 2024 05:27 am

At A Glance

  • Some senators may act high and mighty but they still run to "lowly" House of Representatives members for help during election season, House Deputy Speaker Quezon 2nd district Rep. David "Jay-jay" Suarez said.

FB_IMG_1671699113993.jpgQuezon 2nd district Rep. David "Jay-jay" Suarez (Facebook)

Some senators may act high and mighty but they still run to "lowly" House of Representatives members for help during election season.

House Deputy Speaker Quezon 2nd district Rep. David "Jay-jay" Suarez gave this hot take after he admitted to feeling "hurt" by statements made by certain senators on the ongoing issue on Charter change (Cha-cha) and the People’s Initiative (PI).

"For the past few weeks, the House has been quiet. We've respected their opinions and decisions and some of their statements have been very hurtful for a lot of congressmen," Suarez said during a press briefing Tuesday, Jan. 30.

"Tinanggap po namin yun, tahimik. Kaso...aaminin ko po sa inyo, nasaktan po ako (We accepted it, we kept quiet. But...I'll admit to you, I was hurt)," he said.

"Kunwari, nung sinabi po nung ilang senador na hindi niyo pwedeng ikumpara ang Senado sa Kongreso, bakit hindi? Eh parehas po tayong bumubuo ng Kongress, we're co-equal legislative branch[es]," noted Suarez.

(For instance, when some senators said the Senate cannot be compared to Congress [House], why is that? We both comprise Congress, we're co-equal legislative branches.)

Suarez took exception to remarks that he said "belittled" the him and his fellow congressmen.

"Just because ba na they're elected national, mas mataas na sila kesa sa amin? Minamaliit kami kasi distrito lang daw ang tinatayuan namin at nirerepresent namin? At yung mga party-list sobrang liit daw ng boto hindi pwedeng ikumpara sa kanila? Pagmamaliit yun."

(Just because you're elected nationally, you're higher than us? We're belittled because we merely represent districts? And that party-lists have so few votes that they cannot be compared to them? You're belittling us.)

"Excuse me ha. Bakit, pagdating ng kampanyahan, sa amin naman kayo lumalapit at humhingi ng tulong ah. Kaso lang kapag nanalo na kayo, iba na ang levels natin? Pare-parehas lang tayong Pilipino. Pare-parehas lang tayong anak ng Diyos, di ba?" Suarez asked.

(Excuse me, then. Why is it that during election campaign, it is us that you approach for help. But then once you win, we suddenly belong to different levels? We're all Filipinos. Aren't we all children of God?)

"Dapat, respetuhan din tayo sa isa't isa (We must respect each other)," underscored Suarez.

The deputy speaker says he personally looks at myself "as a national elected official whose scope is also the entire Philippines, not just my district".

Suarez made these remarks amid the apparent impasse between the House and Senate on Cha-cha.

The 300-member House has been pursuing the lifting of the restrictive economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution. The 24-member Senate, on the other hand, seem more concerned with the checks and balances of the process, to the point of inaction.

Related Tags

Senators Charter change david Jay-jay suarez belittled House of Representative
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