House leaders rally behind Speaker

Leaders of the House of Representatives rallied yesterday behind Speaker Martin Romualdez, dismissing Vice President Sara Duterte's latest statement as a "desperate attempt" to shift public attention from her alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential and intelligence funds (CIFs) of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and Department of Education when she was the DepEd secretary.

- JOSE RODEL CLAPANO

Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr., Deputy Speaker David Suarez and Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe asked Duterte to "stop the drama, hallucination and deception."

The three House leaders said Romualdez and the chamber have consistently adhered to transparency and good governance.

"She seems to be hallucinating. That is why our advice to her is consult a doctor," Gonzales said.

"The report of the Commission on Audit (COA) on how the House of Representatives used the people's money is clean, unlike the OVP under VP Duterte," he added.

The lawmaker stressed the House would not be investigating illegal activities like drug trafficking, money laundering and hoarding and price manipulation of consumer products if it is benefiting from illicit practices as claimed by the Vice President.