Speaker: House power of the purse non-negotiable

MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Martin Romualdez has made it clear that the House of Representatives’ power of the purse – the constitutional mandate to scrutinize the government’s annual budget – is “non-negotiable” regardless of political implications.

In a speech delivered during the resumption of congressional session on Monday, Romualdez reminded his colleagues in the House that they owe it to the 114 million Filipinos who they represent collectively and who elected them into office and expect so much from them.

“Our most important clients, the constituents we are all duty-bound to serve, expect nothing less than results founded on honesty, trustworthiness and moral uprightness – non-negotiable demands that we must safeguard and deliver,” Romualdez said.

“A major part of our mandate is to provide honest and credible public service, one aspect of which is exercising the power of the purse, a constitutional obligation that entails careful and judicious examination of the national expenditure program,” he added.

While Romualdez did not name the person or persons who maligned him as well as the institution, his ally – Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga – identified the person in question as former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Duterte earlier described the chamber as a “rotten” agency in government. He was ranting on a television network based in Davao City whose evangelist-owner is a very close friend of his, about how “rotten” the House is and its members, ostensibly after the leadership realigned the confidential funds of his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte.

“Let not our hard work be undermined by a dissatisfied few whose only intention is to sow divisiveness,” Romualdez said, apparently referring to the former president.

”Let our outputs speak for our loyalty to our country, the Constitution and the entire Filipino people,” he added. “I am prepared to stand before anyone and defend our actions and decisions, even in the face of issues that threaten our institution’s integrity. We have consistently upheld the principles associated with democracy, representation, fairness, pluralism and even dissent.”

Romualdez credited the