Quezon 2nd district Rep. David "Jay-jay" Suarez (2nd from left) and the rest of the "Young Guns". (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
 

House Deputy Speaker Quezon 2nd district Rep. David "Jay-jay" Suarez has clapped back at Davao City 1st district Rep. Paolo Duterte for branding the "Young Guns" bloc as the "young goons". 

Suarez, endearingly referred to by the Young Guns members as their "road show manager", didn't take Rep. Duterte’s tirade sitting down. 

"I think that's an unfair statement pagdating po sa kanila (when it comes to them)," said Suarez, who, along with the Young Guns, finished the marathon quad-comm hearing that started at around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday and ended at past 2 a.m. Wednesday. 

"First of all, you have to commend the legislative work the Young Guns have done for the 19th Congress. Kita mo naman, alas dos na ng umaga, hindi sila umaalis (As you can see, it's already two in the morning, and yet they stayed)," he said. 

"Very active sila pagdating sa committee hearings, pagdating sa committee deliberations (They're very active when it comes to committee hearing and committee deliberations.) 

"I hope I can say the same for certain congressmen who seem to forget that they're congressmen and not show up for plenary work," the Quezon lawmaker said in a comment seemingly directed at Rep. Duterte. 

"But the Young Guns have always been there, working tirelessly for their district representing the people that elected them into office," noted Suarez. 

On Tuesday, Vice President Sara Duterte challenged the Young Guns and reelectionists take drug tests and psychological tests. 

Her brother, Rep.Duterte, then singled out Young Guns member, Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) Party-list Rep. Margarita "Migs" Nograles and dared her to take a drug test. Rep. Duterte and Nograles are set to tangle for Davao City’s 1st district seat in the May 2025 mid-term elections. 

"I dare my opponent for the position of representative of Davao City's first district, who is said to be a member of the so-called 'young goons' in Congress — or is it 'guns' — to also undergo a hair follicle test," said Rep. Duterte. 

Suarez wasn't done yet; in an apparent response to the Duterte siblings "challenges", he revealed what he thought the best challenge was. 

"You know, unang-una, pinakamaganda, 'Take the oath challenge'. At 'Humarap ka sa good government challenge'. That's the best challenge." 

(First of all, the best one is 'Take the oath challenge'. And the 'Humarap ka sa good government challenge'.) 

"Dahil (Because) what we're after here is the truth, what we're after here is coming up with the proper legislation to strengthen the institutions of government, and to make sure that the people's money is being spent, and spent properly," he said. 

For weeks now, the Young Guns have been prodding the Vice President to appear before the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability and testify under oath regarding her use of confidential and intelligence funds (CIFs).