The House of Representatives, through its spokesperson lawyer Princess Abante, has finally addressed the "tambaloslos" tag that Speaker Martin Romualdez's critics have given to him.
This, after Senator Imee Marcos called him as such during an event in Malaysia that was attended by other administration critics, including Vice President Sara Duterte.
"Tinawag si Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez na 'tambaloslos' dahil sa kanyang pagtulong — sa mga nagugutom, maysakit, at nawalan ng hanapbuhay (Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez was called 'tambaloslos' because of his efforts to assist those who are hungry, sick, and unemployed)," Abante said in a statement Friday, June 13.
"Kung ang pagtulong sa kapwa ang itinuturing ng iba na kalokohan, mas gugustuhin po naming matawag na 'tambaloslos' — kaysa matawag na 'kawatan' dahil sa pagnanakaw sa kaban ng bayan," she said.
(If helping others is considered foolishness by some, then we would rather be called 'tambaloslos'— than be labeled as 'kawatan' for stealing from the national treasury.)
Kawatan means "thief" in Filipino.
Between Senator Marcos and Vice President Duterte, it was the latter who first floated the derogatory Visayan word tambalolos in what pundits believed was a shot at Romualdez. Duterte did so in an Instagram post in 2023, when she was still serving the Marcos Cabinet as Department of Education (DepEd) secretary.
In her speech in Malaysia, Senator Marcos took a shot at the administration of her brother, President, for allegedly using billions of pesos to buy votes--all in the guise of "ayuda" or government aid.
Abante clapped back on behalf of the House, which had been a staunch backer of President Marcos' ayuda programs.
"Sa gitna ng paninira at intriga, kami po sa House of Representatives ay naninindigan:
Ang pagtulong sa mahihirap ay hindi kailanman dapat ikahiya (Amid defamation and intrigue, we in the House of Representatives stand firm: Helping the poor should never be a source of shame)," she said.
"Ang ayudang ipinagkakaloob sa mahihirap na Pilipino ay may malinaw na proseso, may resibo, at may diretsong patutunguhan. Hindi ito itinatago, hindi nililihim, at lalong hindi inililipat sa personal na bank account," she noted.
(The aid given to poor Filipinos follows a clear process, is properly documented, and has a direct destination. It is not hidden, kept secret, or transferred to a personal bank account.)
"Hindi ito tulad ng confidential at intelligence funds na ginastos sa loob lamang ng ilang araw — walang paliwanag, walang breakdown (This is not like confidential and intelligence funds that were spent within mere days — without explanations, without breakdowns)," Abante added.
Vice President Duterte--Senator Marcos' friend--was impeached by the House last Feb. 5 on several grounds, including the alleged misuse of P612.5 million worth of confidential funds.
"Habang ang iba ay abala sa pag-iikot sa abroad, sa media appearances, at tila maagang kampanya — si Speaker Romualdez at ang Kamara ay patuloy na nagtatrabaho: naghahain ng panukalang batas, nagbabantay ng pondo, at nagdadala ng serbisyo sa mga nangangailangan," Abante said.
(While others are busy traveling abroad, making media appearances, and seemingly engaging in early campaigning — Speaker Romualdez and the House continue to work: proposing bills, monitoring funds, and providing services to those in need.)