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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Hindi ko puwedeng palampasin': Javi Benitez offended by senators' joke on TUPAD workers

'Hindi ko puwedeng palampasin': Javi Benitez offended by senators' joke on TUPAD workers

Published Dec 17, 2025 11:38 pm

At A Glance

  • Negros Oriental 3rd district Rep. Javier "Javi" Miguel Benitez appeared offended by senators' banter during the Bicameral Conference Committee hearings, particularly when they likened TUPAD workers to persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) or inmates.
Negros Oriental 3rd district Rep. Javier "Javi" Miguel Benitez (Facebook)
Negros Oriental 3rd district Rep. Javier "Javi" Miguel Benitez (Facebook)


Negros Oriental 3rd district Rep. Javier "Javi" Miguel Benitez appeared offended by senators' banter during the Bicameral Conference Committee hearings, particularly when they likened TUPAD workers to persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) or inmates.
"Gusto ko lang linawin, at hindi ko puwedeng palampasin ang ganitong biro. Lalo na dahil may mga TUPAD workers na nanood kanina sa bicam live stream (I just want to clarify, and I cannot let this kind of joke pass. Especially since there were TUPAD workers who watched the bicam live stream earlier.)," Benitez, 31, wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday night, Dec. 16.
This was shortly after Senators Erwin Tulfo and Loren Legarda sounded off on the red-colored shirts that Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced (TUPAD) beneficiaries were made to wear under the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) initiative.
Legarda said she thought it was unnecessary, while Tulfo said it made the beneficiaries look like PDLs.
Benitez, a rookie congressman and a first-time member of the bicam on the national budget, didn't appreciate these comments.
"May mga pahayag at tawanan na nagpalabas na parang mukhang PDLs ang mga TUPAD workers dahil sa suot nilang uniform (There were remarks and laughter that made it seem as if the TUPAD workers looked like PDLs because of the uniforms they were wearing)," he said.
"Linawin lang po natin: ang TUPAD beneficiaries ay mga manggagawa, hindi PDLs. Mga Pilipino po sila na nagtatrabaho nang marangal para sa pamilya nila (Let us be clear: the TUPAD beneficiaries are workers, not PDLs. They are Filipinos who work honorably for their families)," noted the Visayan.
"Ang tulong ng gobyerno dapat may dignidad at respeto. Ang uniforms ay para lang sa identification, hindi para ipahiya ang tao (Government assistance should come with dignity and respect. The uniforms are only for identification, not to shame people)," Benitez further wrote.
The House and Senate contingents to the bicam are racing to beat a Dec. 22 deadline for the ratification of the P6.793-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) or proposed national budget for 2026.
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