DEPUTY Speaker Puno is pushing for an ethics probe into Rep. Richard Gomez’s conduct after the lawmaker allegedly targeted journalists with accusations and exposed their contact information.
Puno’s call came after a press briefing on Friday, where he was questioned about a post on Gomez’s alleged Facebook page.
In the post, Gomez claimed that reporters were being paid to ask him about claims made by Matag-ob, Leyte Mayor Bernie Tacoy, who alleged that Gomez did not coordinate flood control projects with the local government and that the faulty initiatives were his projects.
Puno, a former interior secretary, stated that lawmakers and other government officials must be able to explain when asked about issues. He emphasized that Gomez’s behavior of insulting people and seemingly avoiding answering questions was unacceptable.
“I encourage you to bring it before the ethics committee here,” Puno said. “That cannot be allowed, I mean, you are asked to explain something. You’re a legislator, you explain. The reason why we became a legislator is that people think we can explain.
And then these questions that he needs to address, he cannot do that?” Puno added that Gomez only made the situation worse by insulting people, and that as a House leader, he is disappointed by the situation. “And then you compound the issue by insulting people, which doesn’t look good. I think the ethics committee should (be) brought into that,” Puno noted.
