THE House minority bloc, most allies of Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (second district, Pampanga), formally files ethics complaint against Akbayan Representative Walden Bello on Monday.
The charges was in connection to Bello's "unparliamentary" speech against the former President last August 2.
At a press briefing, House Minority Floor Leader Edcel Lagman (first district, Albay) said Bello's "indecorous remarks amounting to serious disorderly behavior" have prompted some of its members to refer the matter to the ethics committee for necessary action.
The complaint was endorsed by Representatives Marc Douglas Cagas IV (first district, Davao del Sur), Simeon Datumanong (second district, Maguindanao), Maria Milagros Magsaysay (first district, Zambales), Aurelio Gonzales Jr (third district, Pampanga) and Gloria's brother-in-law Ignacio "Iggy" Arroyo (fifth district, Negros Occidental)
"The moment the respondent Bello uttered the unparliamentary and indecorous words and phrases, he has inflicted injury to Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as a member of the House and to the Congress as a hallowed institution," the complaint read.
"Striking off-the-record Bello's uncalled remarks did not erase his offense and did not temper his intemperate and derisive harangue against a colleague, neither did it reverse the intensity of the verbal assault which the other members of this House witnessed and heard and which the tri-media recorded," it added.
Lagman said they have lodged their complaint before the office of House Secretary General Marilyn Yap, pending the constitution of the ethics and privileges committee that was rumored to be headed by minority member Representative Orlando Fua (lone district, Siquijor).
"I have been informed that the prayer is for suspension. Under our rules, he can be suspended for six months or less, that's mean no work, no pay," he said.
The Albay lawmaker added that Arroyo has not yet "verbalized any comment" of the minority's move.
It can be remembered that Bello accused the administration of the former President as corrupt while referring to her allies as "pigs" and "crocodiles."
Sought for comment, the second-term militant congressman said he would stood pat on his remarks.
"I am not threatened by the news that the minority has finally filed the ethics complaint against me...we will wait for the ethics committee to furnish us a copy of the complaint and notify us the schedule of the proceedings," said Bello.
He added: "Let us not forget the real ethical question: is it appropriate for Mrs. Arroyo to get away with grave abuse of power and massive corruption while the Filipino people continue to suffer the effects of almost 10-years of her morally bankrupt leadership?"
Magsaysay however countered that they wanted to set a precedent especially to the 140 House neophytes not to criticize a fellow congressman without substantial claims.
"We have rules to follow. We want to set the tone and parameter while it's still early. We have to say things diplomatically without going to low blows," she said. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)