MANILA -- The plenary hearing of the budget bill was delayed Saturday morning after lawmakers defended another colleague from the alleged insulting remarks of peace adviser Teresita "Ging" Deles.
During the budget consideration of the Office of Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) earlier this week, Secretary Deles reportedly told Representative Aliah Dimaporo (second district, Lanao del Norte) to get her facts straight before interpolating on the peace process.
Deles said that the neophyte lawmaker is not knowledgeable on the issue being discussed and insulted her at the south lounge inside the House of Representatives building.
Minority Leader Edcel Lagman and Representative Tupay Loong (first district, Sulu) quickly defended the first-term congresswoman saying she does not deserve such an insult especially inside the House of the people.
Representative Marc Cagas IV (first district, Davao del Sur) said that the office of the OPAPP should be given a one peso allocation from the 2011 budget for such remarks from the peace adviser.
The last day on the plenary hearing on the approval of the budget bill on second reading is set to be finished Saturday morning. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)