AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee (Left) and  Iloilo 1st district Rep. Janette Garin (Screenshot from Facebook live)

“We agreed to disagree, and all’s well that ends well.”

This was Iloilo 1st district Rep. Janette Garin’s bookend statement after tensions rose over a microphone scuffle at the conclusion of the plenary debate on the proposed 2025 budget of the Department of Health (DOH).

Garin said in a statement Friday, Sept. 27 that it was all an “unfortunate incident that begs for understanding from the public”. 

“Emotional outbursts typically occur when passions run high during clashes of views between opposing legislators, especially when they are deliberating on the general appropriations bill under time pressure,” she said.

During Wednesday’s budget deliberations in the House of Representatives, Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Northern Samar 1std istrict Rep. Paul Daza was about to terminate the debate on the DOH’s budget when AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee suddenly grabbed the microphone to interrupt.

This prompted Garin to quickly uphold the termination to the presiding Speaker as Lee shouted to the top of his lungs.

“Ganyan na ba ang nangyayari dito sa atin? (Is this what’s happening to us now?)” Lee was heard saying, as Garin’s motion was approved.

AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee grabbing the microphone from Northern Samar 1st District Rep. Paul Daza (Screenshot from Facebook live)

This incident went viral on social media, which according to Garin, may have caused “unintentional damage” to the integrity of the lawmaking process.

“Liwanagin lang natin na yung viral video tungkol sa proseso ng debate ay hindi bastusan sa pagitan ng mga nagtatalong miyembro ng Kamara kundi mainitang paggiit ng ideya at mungkahi ng bawat panig,” the congresswoman explained.

(Let's just clarify that the viral video about the debate process is not about disrespect among debating members of the House, but rather a heated exchange of ideas and suggestions from each side.)

The Iloilo solon admitted that she was “emotionally charged” over the mic scuffle as she didn't want the DOH’s budget to be “sacrificed”.

“Tatlong araw nang pabalik-balik ang taga-DOH para maisaayos ang badyet para sa kanilang mga programang maibigay ang maayos na serbisyo sa Filipino,” Garin, a former Health secretary, noted.

(For three days, the DOH has been going back and forth to adjust the budget for their programs to provide proper services to Filipinos.)

The DOH’s budget was initially deliberated last Monday, however, Lee, an aspiring senator, motioned to defer the discussions due to his concerns.

Garin, a deputy majority leader, said the House leadership has explained to Lee that his requests will no longer be heard since there’s not enough time. After all, this was during the last hours of the final session date before the congressional recess. 

She further explained that Lee’s concerns to the DOH have all been considered. She noted that these would need additional processes and documents, among others—which cannot be presented within the same day.

The congresswoman added that after the incident, both she and Lee agreed that what happened was purely work-related and nothing personal.

The House of Representatives approved the P6.352-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) on third and final reading last Sept. 25.