LANAO del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong urged sobriety and responsibility in public discourse Thursday, stressing that serious constitutional matters must be anchored on verified and properly presented information.
Adiong, chair of the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, issued the statement after ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio claimed he had seen “records of communications” allegedly linking President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. to kickbacks from supposed anomalous insertions in the national budget.
Adiong emphasized that while everyone has the right to raise concerns, allegations of this magnitude must be accompanied by properly submitted and authenticated evidence before the appropriate forum. He cautioned against recounting what was allegedly seen or relayed by others without formally presenting the supposed records for scrutiny, stating it risks reducing a constitutional issue into speculation.
Adiong underscored that the House Committee on Justice conducted extensive hearings on the impeachment complaints against President Marcos, where issues were raised, discussed, and deliberated upon in accordance with House rules and constitutional standards. He stated that the panel’s dismissal of the complaints was the product of hearings and evaluation, not conjecture or political noise.
Adiong warned that floating untested allegations in public, instead of presenting them before the proper body, risks eroding trust in institutions and fueling unnecessary instability. He stated that allegations must be proven, not merely repeated, and that constitutional processes exist to test claims through evidence, not through intrigue.
While maintaining respect for differing views, Adiong emphasized that accountability must always go hand in hand with fairness, and that due process is a safeguard that protects everyone, including those making the accusations.
