Statement of House Spox on Accusations, Issues against Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero
House of Representatives spokesperson Atty. Princess Abante suggested to Senate President Chiz Escudero to answer the questions to him instead of blaming the lower chamber.
Now that the 20th Congress has officially opened, the lawmakers are now back to work. Both chambers have also elected their chief for the 20th Congress. Speaker Martin Romualdez managed to remain in his post. Even prior to the election, he was poised to remain in his seat after more than 270 lawmakers reportedly committed their support to him.
Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero also remained in his post. Undeniably, one of the issues that are common between the Senate and the House of Representatives now is the impeachment case of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. Speaker Martin Romualdez called on the members of the lower chamber to not just bow in silence to the ruling of the Supreme Court while they recognize the decision.
The Senate is accused of allegedly delaying the impeachment process of Duterte. Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero earned a lot of criticisms and as well as calls to inhibit from the trial of the Vice President for supposedly being “biased”. The Senate chief refused to inhibit and even expressed support on the ruling of the Supreme Court.
Aside from the “biased” accusation, Senate Pres. Escudero is also faced with accusations that he allegedly made a P150-billion budget amendment in the 2025 national budget. The allegation was ignited by the closed circuit television (CCTV) camera footage showing Escudero at the House of Representatives when the Bicameral Conference Committee was deliberating the proposed fund.
Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero claimed that he was at the House to ensure that things were going smoothly. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, the Senate Chief tagged the issue as allegedly a mere “demolition job” and pointed at the House of Representatives over the accusations.
Recently, House spokesperson Atty. Princess Abante reacted to the move of Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero and raised a question why he always lifts his brow at the lower chamber whenever he is criticized. She stressed that the questions are for him.
“Bakit kami? Bakit kami ang may kasalanan? Ang tanong ay tinatanong kay Senate President Chiz. Bakit po sa amin po ibinabato ang tanong? Bakit ‘pag may mga criticism sa kanya ay tinataasan niya ng kilay ang House of Representatives?” the House spox said.
Atty. Princess Abante claimed that it would be better if Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero will just address the questions to him. Based on the report, while she refused to speak on the CCTV footage issue saying she was not yet part of the House when it crossed the surface, Abante assured that Speaker Martin Romualdez does not intervene in the bicam deliberation of the budget.
“I cannot comment on the CCTV issue. Siguro ‘yung tanong, bakit nga siya nandito? Kung tungkol ‘yan sa bicam, kasi ang Speaker hindi naman po nakialam sa bicam ng budget,” she said.
During his State of the Nation Address or SONA 2025, Pres. Bongbong Marcos assured the Filipinos that he will not approve budget proposals that are not in line with the plans of the government.