"BRING it on!" was the response of Akbayan Representative Walden Bello following the threat of Lakas-Kampi members of filing a complaint against him for his "ugly" remarks to Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (second district, Pampanga).
During Monday's privilege hour, Bello condemned Arroyo for the pervasive corruption during her administration and even referred her allies and officials as "pigs".
He was questioned by Representative Tobias Tiangco (lone district, Navotas City) after his speech because some parts of it were "unparliamentary" and was requested to remove these in the records of the session.
After House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte concurred with the request, an ally of Arroyo said that a complaint should be filed to the ethics committee.
But upon hearing it, Bello decided to withdraw his confirmation to extract some statements.
"Dalhin na ni Ginang Arroyo at ng kanyang mga ka-alyado ang kaso sa ethics committee pero hindi ko babawiin ang sinabi ko. Hindi karapa't dapat maupo si Ginang Arroyo sa Kongreso," he retorted.
“At kinakailangan siyang panagutin sa kanyang pangungurakot at pang-aabuso sa taong bayan," he added.
The ethics committee chairmanship has been assigned to the minority party, where Arroyo belongs.
The Akbayan lawmaker said it was important to make the point that Arroyo is not welcome in Congress since a good majority of the Filipino people remained outraged at her corrupt leadership.
Tiangco meanwhile refuted the news concerning he switched sides with the minority after he stood up seeking portions of Bello's speech to be stricken off.
"I am not a GMA ally and it is not about defending GMA. It is the principle of upholding and adhering strictly to the rules of the House," he said in a statement. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)