Lawmaker exits PDP-Laban to name Rodrigo Duterte as ‘threat’ to House

MANILA, Philippines — First they called it “some words.” Then it became “bad news.” Finally, they said the specific word used against them was “rotten.”

Ranking House lawmakers on Monday hesitated to spell out the incendiary remarks that last month “challenged the integrity” of the lower chamber and to name its source — former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Upon the prompt of another colleague, Senior Deputy Speaker Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales eventually identified Duterte as the person who described the House as a “rotten” institution on live television — but not without tendering his resignation from Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) on the spot. 

Duterte is the chairperson of PDP-Laban.

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

This development came after Gonzales sponsored on the plenary floor House Resolution 1414, which calls on the House to "(uphold) the integrity and honor of the House of Representatives and (express) appreciation, solidarity and support" for House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

The resolution itself does not name Duterte nor the accusations he aired over an SMNI program in October where he described Congress as “the most rotten institution” in the country. 

In that SMNI interview, Duterte also alleged Romualdez was engaging in corrupt activities and had sabotaged his daughter's (Vice President Sara Duterte) request for confidential funds in the proposed 2024 budget. 

RELATED: House leaders take offense at Rodrigo Duterte's tirades on Sara’s loss of confidential funds  

To “give context” to the House resolution, Lagman took the floor to ask what events and words were specifically uttered that posed a threat to the House to merit consideration of House Resolution 1414. 

“I remember a threat against one of our own, Rep. France Castro. But with respect to the whole House, was the integrity of the House challenged any time during the break?” 

Rep. Sandro Marcos (Ilocos Norte, 1st District)