Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa (left), Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre (Facebook)

Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre took to social media to respond to Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa assailed the party-list over its health development program that also involved the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP). 

"Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa’s privilege speech questioning the inclusion of Tingog Party-List in the recently signed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between PhilHealth, the 
[DBP], and Tingog Party-list is not only misinformed but also troubling in light of his history and motive," Acidre wrote on Facebook on Wednesday night, Dec. 11. 

"While we respect his right to speak, we find it necessary to critically address his allegations and provide clarity on the matter," he said of the senator. 

Acidre said Tingog’s involvement in the MOA was above board and devoid of politics. 

"The MOA’s intent is clear: to address the dire gaps in healthcare infrastructure, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Tingog’s role in this initiative is not about power or control but about facilitating solutions for local government units (LGUs) to improve healthcare access," said the administration solon. 

Acidre said such activities were "well within our mandate as a legislative representative of marginalized communities". 

"Tingog Party-list will not handle funds, manage projects, or encroach upon the functions of the Department of Health (DOH) or the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). These agencies remain central to national healthcare programs," he noted. 

He said the party pushed for the enactment of Republic Act (RA)No. 11567, which increased the bed capacity of Eastern Visayas Medical Center from 500 to 1,500 beds; and RA No.11703, which established the Samar Island Medical Center, a tertiary hospital in Calbayog, Samar that will serve patients in the three Samar provinces. 

Tingog, Acidre said, had also been supporting the establishment of Philippine Cancer Center. It advocates early detection, timely treatment and comprehensive support for cancer patients. 
 

Smokescreen?

Acidre threw barbs at Dela Rosa--former president Rodrigo Duterte's ally and ex-police chief, via his post. 

"Tingog's involvement is grounded in service, not politics. Unlike the senator’s own history, which has been marred by accusations of using public office to protect questionable policies, Tingog’s focus is on healthcare initiatives that directly benefit the marginalized," he wrote. 

"The MOA adheres to all legal protocols. The financial arrangements are strictly between DBP and LGUs, and no funds are transferred to Tingog. The ethics of this partnership should be measured by its intent and outcomes, not by Senator Dela Rosa’s baseless speculations," he further said. 

Acidre said Dela Rosa could just be creating a "smokescreen" out of the MOA to deflect from his being a “person of interest” in the House of Representatives’ ongoing probe into state-sponsored killings during the previous Duterte administration. 

"It is worth asking why Senator Dela Rosa is so fixated on attacking this program, which is designed to uplift underserved communities. Could this be an attempt to deflect attention from the House investigation into extrajudicial killings during his time as police chief?" asked the ranking congressman. 

"His sudden concern for governance and ethics appears more like a smokescreen to distract from his own accountability," Acidre said. 

He further advised the senator to just "focus on addressing the lingering questions about his past and how it has affected the lives of countless Filipinos".