AN opposition congressman yesterday challenged Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez to investigate the allegation of Negros Oriental Rep. Herminio Teves that some of the members of the 12-man House contingent in the Commission on Appointments engaged in extortion activities.

Party-list Rep. Joel Villanueva of the Citizens Battle Against Corruption (Cibac) said the Ombudsman should conduct a motu propio investigation to show it is serious in its anti-graft and corruption campaign.

Villanueva said the investigation would save the image of Congress as an institution. "The Ombudsman has something very huge to contribute in this," he said.

Hinamon ng oposisyon si Speaker Jose De Venecia na huwag palagpasin ang nabunyag na anomalya sa Commission on Appointment (CA) na kinasasangkutan ng ilang Kongresista upang mailigtas ang reputasyon ng Mababang Kapulungan ng Kongreso. 

Ayon kay Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) party list Rep. Joel Villanueva, reputasyon ng Kamara ang nakataya kaya hindi ito dapat ipagkibit-balikat lamang ni De Venecia at kailangang parusahan ang sangkot.

Leaders of the opposition in the House have agreed to block the administration from taking control of both the speakership and the minority leadership.

In a meeting hosted by South Cotabato Rep. Darlene Antonino Custodio, opposition stalwarts proposed an amendment to the House rules by convincing the majority to drop the “anomalous scheme” where a losing candidate for the speaker automatically becomes the minority leader even if he/she is a member of the majority party.

To secure the minority leadership, the opposition leaders agreed to field a single candidate to contest the speakership.

AN opposition congressman yesterday said the allegations of Negros Oriental Rep. Herminio Teves that members of the House 12-man contingent to the Commission on Appointments have been engaged in extortion raises another question on the leadership of Speaker Jose de Venecia.

Party-list Rep. Joel Villanueva of Cibac, a member of the opposition bloc, said the allegation could not have surfaced at a more embarrassing moment, with De Venecia fending a challenge from Cebu Rep. Pablo Garcia of the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi).

Villanueva said the House member of the appointments body should be chosen for their qualifications, not for their influence.