MANILA -- Five opposition party congressmen are set to file an ethics complaint against Akabayan Representative Walden Bello for his "unparliamentary" remarks against former President and current Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (2nd district, Pampanga).

Representatives Simeon Datumanong (2nd district, Maguindanao), Ignacio "Iggy" Arroyo (5th district, Negros Occidental), Marc Cagas IV (1st district, Davao del Sur), Jose Aquino III (1st district, Agusan del Norte), and Aurelio Gonzales Jr. (3rd district, Pampanga) have expressed intention to file the case once the composition of the ethics committee is finalized.

The chairmanship of the ethics committee is the only one that was allocated to the minority party in the House of Representatives.

“We are waiting for the constitution of the ethics committee. There is no committee yet. Maybe even members of the majority would like to join (in the complaint)," said House Minority Leader and Representative Edcel Lagamn (1st district, Albay).

Lagman also said the complaint will push through despite the ruling of the majority that the unparliamentary remarks of Bello be stricken off the record.

"What has to be stricken does not mean to say it was not said," Lagman added. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)