BAYAN Muna representatives Neri Colmenares and Carlos Zarate criticized former President Rodrigo Duterte’s absence at a recent Quad Committee hearing in the House of Representatives, calling it an attempt to “avoid accountability.”
The hearing, held on October 22, was set to question Duterte on various issues, including how ₱125 million was spent in 11 days.
“Ang ginahimo nila Sara (Duterte-Carpio) ug Digong avoidance ba, kay simple raman ang pangutana sa katawhan just answer the question, halimbawa saan mo winaldas ang P125 million in 11 days,” Colmenares told Gold Star Daily.
He added that Duterte’s handling of past issues, particularly those related to extrajudicial killings during the drug war, raised further concerns.
Zarate, also a representative of Bayan Muna, emphasized that it is “payback time,” urging the public to demand answers from the Duterte administration and the current government.
He accused both the Duterte and Marcos administrations of diverting attention from critical issues like inflation.
“Nitaas ba diay ang sweldo? Niubos ba diay ang presyo sa palaliton,” Zarate asked rhetorically.
Both lawmakers were in Cagayan de Oro last Thursday, October 24, to participate in discussions on the “Writ of Kalikasan,” a Supreme Court-mandated environmental protection initiative, as the region faces numerous environmental challenges.
Meanwhile, Cagayan de Oro City Councilor Joyleen Mercedes Balaba, a Duterte loyalist, voiced her dismay over the hearing, accusing Congressman Ace Barbers, the Quad Committee chair and former Duterte supporter, of turning against the former president.
“Karon gipatawag siya aning mga kongresista nga nagpadayag ug suporta kaniya sa una parehas ani ni Congressman Ace Barbers who is the chairperson of the Committee of Drugs,” Balaba said.
“Makapungot, katong congressman nga nagpatawag sa iya mao pud tong mga congressman nga nag praise sa iyaha (when Duterte was still President),” she added.
