Two Manila congressmen stressed that they cannot be dictated upon by anyone and will remain independent representatives of their districts at the House of Representatives.
Congressmen Joel Chua (Third District) and Rolan Valeriano (Second District) said this in reaction to allegations that they are being dictated upon by House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Chua and Valeriano were guests at the Manila City Hall Reporters' Association (MACHRA) "Balitaan" news forum held at the Harbor View Restaurant in Ermita on Tuesday, Jan. 28.
The two solons are investigating the alleged misuse of confidential funds by the office of Vice President Sara Duterte by the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability which Chua heads and where Valeriano is a member.
"Kung titignan natin ang survey, mahigit 60 percent sang-ayon sa ginagawa ng QuadComm, so wala pong ibang pupuwedeng magdikta sa amin kundi ang taumbayan. Kasi kahit ano ang sabihin ng Speaker, kung ang tao ay 'di sang-ayon, eh balewala lahat. Kami ay matatakot dahil representative lang kami ng taumbayan (If we look at the survey, more than 60 percent agree with what the QuadComm is doing, so no one else can dictate to us except the people. Because no matter what the Speaker says, if the people do not agree, it doesn't matter. We would be afraid because we are just representatives of the people)," Chua said.
Chua added that based on the surveys, support for the QuadComm is overwhelming, especially in Metro Manila, noting that those attacking the House of Congress are usually paid trolls or vloggers.
He assured that they will just continue to do their job, citing the issues that unexpectedly came out of the inquiries being made.
"Gagawin lang namin ang trabaho namin kasi nakita naman namin na maraming isyung lumabas. Nung una naming ginawa ito, wala naman sa isip naming me mga lalabas na isyu. Ang nasa isip lang talaga namin is in aid of legislation at marami na nga tayong nakita na mga problemang dapat ayusin. Si Speaker naman po hindi naman po nakikipag-usap sa amin kasi kung nakikipag-usap siya sa mga congressman, puputok na yan at kung lahat kakausapin niya, mahirap din naman po 'yun. Ang mga congressman galing sa iba-ibang lugar at partido (We are just doing our job because we have seen that many issues have come out. When we first did this, we never thought that these issues would arise. What we had in mind was really in aid of legislation, and we have already seen many problems that need to be addressed. As for the Speaker, he doesn't really communicate with us because if he were to talk to the congressmen, it would blow up, and if he were to talk to everyone, that would be difficult as well. The congressmen come from different backgrounds and parties)," he pointed out.
"Hindi ako nadidiktahan kapag may nakikita akong mali, aayawan at tatayuan ko (I am not being dictated upon. When I see something wrong, I will oppose it and stand my ground)," Valeriano said.
He cited his previous tiffs with a sheriff and even the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) where he and Chua fought the unjustified demolitions and wanton operations in Manila during the pandemic.
Valeriano currently heads the Committee on Metro Manila Development in Congress.
"Kagaya ngayon, andito ako sa Asenso Manileno, kung pumunta ako sa kabila, baka me pera ako dahil talagang umaagos ang pera dun at wala sana akong kalaban, dahil hindi ako lalagyan ni mayora ng kalaban sigurado. Pero mas pinili ko ang Asenso. Wala talaga kahit zero (funding) ako dito, nagkaroon pa 'ko ng kalaban. Pag mali, ang hirap kainin... hindi ako nadidiktahan ng kahit na sino.. pag tingin ko mali, mali (Like now, I’m with Asenso Manileno. If I went to the other side, I might have money because money really flows there, and I wouldn’t have any opponents because the mayor would make sure I don’t have any. But I chose Asenso. I really have nothing here, even zero funding, and yet I still have opponents. I’m not being dictated upon by anyone... if I think it’s wrong, it’s wrong)," Valeriano stressed.