Anakalusugan Party-List Rep. Mike Defensor
(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Defensor’s press statement that he released on the second day of his relief as chairman of the powerful House Committee on Public Accounts constituted the first alarm bell of another leadership controversy in the chamber.
A few hours after being sacked as chairman of the public accounts panel, Defensor issued a media statement that assailed Velasco as being “the worst.”
The partylist solon ended his statement with a veiled warning: “See you next year.”
Defensor criticized Velasco for not informing him about being replaced as chairman of the public accounts committee despite the fact that the speaker had the opportunity to do so.
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House reshuffle continues in last session day for 2020
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 16) - The revamp inside the House of Representatives, under the leadership of House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, continued even on its last session day before adjourning for the Christmas break.
Cavite Rep. Bambol Tolentino and Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab were elected on Wednesday as deputy speakers, bringing the number to 32.
Following his removal from the post, Defensor slammed Velasco.
“Speaker Lord Velasco is the worse, Defensor said in a statement. He didn’t even have the courtesy to talk with me even as we had a short meeting last week as regards the investigation to be conducted by the Committee on Public Accounts[.] I would not have resisted if he had asked me to give up the position as I have said in the past.”
MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO
Before adjourning for the Christmas break on Wednesday, the Lower House majority decided to relieved Anakalusugan Partylist Rep. Michael Defensor as chairman of the House Committee on Public Trust.
Elected to replace Defensor was Ako Probinsyano Partylist Rep. Bonito Singson, a former assistant minority leader, who is a close ally of Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.
Defensor accepted his fate but aired his grievance of not being informed about his relief before Singson’s appointment was announced on the floor.
Singson said he is optimistic Defensor will continue to play an active role in pursuing legislation that would guarantee public accountability in government. He noted that Defensor has accomplished so much in ensuring honest and clean governance.
Published December 15, 2020, 2:58 PM
More than 150 members of the University of the Philipines (UP) Law faculty have called on the House of Representatives to dismiss the impeachment complaint against Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen which they tagged “baseless.”
“We call on the members of the House of Representatives to do right by the people dismiss the baseless impeachment complaint against Justice Leonen and focus on the more important work at hand,” the faculty members said in a statement updated on Tuesday.
At least 159 faculty members signed the solidarity statement as support to Leonen who served as dean of the UP College of Law from 2008 to 2011, adding that they “stand with his character, his integrity, and his principles.”