Colmenares seeks defense of lawmakers from Duterte’s ‘threat’
MANILA, Philippines — Makabayan coalition chairperson and former Bayan Muna Partylist Representative Neri Colmenares has asked the leadership of House of Representatives to defend its members who are allegedly being threatened by former president Rodrigo Duterte. He believes this alleged threat is connected with the removal of confidential funds (CF) in the proposed 2024 budget. In a statement on Friday, Colmenares claimed Duterte’s statements about ACT Teachers Party-list Representative France Castro can also be considered a threat against other lawmakers who backed the realignment of CFs. “Many questioned the confidential funds both in the House and the Senate, and even people outside Congress,” he said. “Those threats also constitute a threat against them and attempts to stifle the exercise of freedom of expression,” he claimed. “The public has the right to know where their public funds are spent,” Colmenares said. He was referring to the alleged intimidation from Duterte, who advised her daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, to just be frank on where the proposed CF will be used. The former President said the funds will be spent on operations meant to go after communists like Castro. The former Chief Executive made the statement on national television. Duterte’s tirades against Castro came after the small committee in the House removed the CF requests of five agencies, which included Office of the Vice President (OVP) and Department of Education (DepEd). OVP and DepEd, which asked for a CF of P500 million and P150 million, are both headed by Vice President Duterte. RELATED STORIES: House gives zero confidential funds to OVP, DepEd, DICT, DFA, DA Duterte to Sara: Say secret funds to be used vs ‘communists in Congress’ Ex-pres. Duterte’s statements a direct threat to Rep. Castro’s life — group APL
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