FOR spreading fake news, House Deputy Majority Leader and Quezon 2nd District Rep. David “Jay-jay” Suarez on Tuesday asked the House Committee on Legislative Franchises to investigate the allegations by a program on SMNI television network that Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez allegedly spent P1.8-billion travel fund.
Suarez, who stood in plenary during Tuesday afternoon’s session, branded the allegations as fake news and a smear campaign.
“Doon po sa video na ‘yun na ipinalabas sa SMNI, at 10:27 p.m. [Monday], doon sinasabi that Speaker Martin Romualdez spent P1.8 billion in traveling. At dinagdagan pa, baka nga hindi lang P1.8 [billion] mahigitan pa kasama ng kaniyang entourage…Ang tanong is it true? Ang tanong totoo ba ito? Did they even care to validate? Did they even care to ask? Did they even care to find out what really is the truth with regards to this matter? We are all public officials and we are all open to criticisms and public opinions and unfortunately open to fake news. At ito pong ipinalabas ng SMNI, isa pong fake news Hindi po ito totoo,” Suarez stressed.
“As I rise now on a matter of personal and collective privilege, in the spirit of transparency and accountability, I humbly request this august chamber to direct the Committee on Legislative Franchises, in the exercise of its inherent oversight function, to investigate this matter immediately and other similar measures pending with the Committee, including this personal and collective privilege,” Suarez said.
“Unfortunately, we live in an environment of fake news. All of us are victims of fake news, and if we don’t stand up, rise, and be heard, how would they know what the truth is?” Suarez asked.
The legislative franchises panel, chaired by Paranaque City 2nd District Rep. Gus Tambunting will begin its investigation following a motion on the floor by Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong.
The allegations against Romualdez were made on the SMNI program titled “Laban Kasama Ang Bayan”.
Suarez also read from a piece of paper, which he said was Secretary General Reginald Velasco’s statement on the alleged P1.8-billion travel fund.
“Let me be unequivocally clear: these claims are not only baseless but are blatant attempts to spread misinformation and defame the speaker’s character,” he quoted Velasco as saying.
“We categorically deny these false allegations and condemn in the strongest sense the propagation of such irresponsible and damaging news. This is a deliberate attack on the integrity of the house and a sad reflection of the lengths some individuals will go to undermine our democratic institutions,” he added.
Velasco further said, as per Suarez, that the House “demands immediate retraction and apology from those spreading those fake lies. Furthermore, we are exploring other options to hold [them] accountable for this smear campaign.”
