Dong Gonzales resigns from PDP-Laban over ex-Pres. Duterte’s 'rotten' remark vs. House

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 6) — Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio «Dong» Gonzales Jr. on Monday informally resigned from the political party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).

The Pampanga 3rd district representative made the move right before he named former president and PDP-Laban chairperson Rodrigo Duterte as the person who called the House of Representatives a «rotten» institution.

Before this, Gonzales sponsored on the plenary floor House Resolution 1414, which calls on lawmakers to uphold the «integrity and honor of the House of Representatives and [express] appreciation, solidarity, and support for the leadership of Speaker Martin Romualdez.”

Albay representative Edcel Lagman questioned the background of the resolution, which lawmakers said was a result of the attacks made against the House recently.

When asked further about the alleged attacks and who made them, Gonzales said it was Duterte, who described the House as „rotten.“

»The one who uttered that word is our chairman from PDP-Laban. Before I will answer, I will resign now as member and officer of PDP-Laban. The former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte was the one who said that Mr. Chairman," Gonzales said during the House’s first plenary session after a five-week break.

In a TV interview in October, Duterte accused the lower chamber of corruption, even calling it the “most rotten institution” in the country. This was after secret funds of offices led by his daughter, among others, were transferred to agencies focusing on national security.

House party leaders said they took “utmost exception” to Duterte's statements, which included a death threat against a progressive lawmaker.

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