Mariing pinuna ng tinaguriang “Young Guns” ng House of Representatives ang pagiging umano’y “balat-sibuyas” at pagtatanggol ni Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel sa kontrobersyal na bagong Senate building project, at inaakusahan ang senador ng paglilihis ng isyu.

“Almost everybody is in praise of Senate President Chiz Escudero’s decision to suspend construction of the new Senate building pending a comprehensive review. All except Senator Pimentel, who, last we heard, was still the Minority Leader. What gives?” ani House Assistant Majority Leader at Zambales 1st District Representative Jay Khonghun.

Binigyang-diin din niya  ang kahalagahan ng pagsuporta sa paninindigan ng bagong pamunuan ng Senado sa good governance “Instead of hitting us, congressmen, the good Senate Minority Leader should welcome our move to applaud the decision of the new Senate leadership to uphold the principles of good governance. Hindi talaga namin maintindihan kung bakit nagagalit sa amin si Senator Pimentel,” dagdag ni Khonghun.

Pinuna naman ni House Assistant Majority Leader Rep. Jil Bongalon ng Ako-Bicol Partylist si Pimentel sa paghahambing ng budget ng Senado at ng Kamara. “One thing is clear: the House of Representatives, with its over 300 members, does not have a P23-billion building project. Senator Pimentel’s attempts to divert scrutiny from the Senate’s controversial expenditure by highlighting the House’s budget increase are unfounded and misleading,” aniya.

“Public funds must be utilized transparently and judiciously, irrespective of the agency or branch of government,” dagdag ni Bongalon.

Iginiit din ng Young Guns na hindi nila responsibilidad na ipagtanggol ang budget allocation at expenditure ng Senado. “There is no need to be onion-skinned about the criticisms aimed at the Senate’s spending. As public officials, we must all be open to scrutiny, especially when it concerns the use of taxpayers’ money,” sabi ni Rep. Rodge Gutierrez ng 1-Rider Partylist.

“The public deserves to know why the cost of the new Senate building has escalated so dramatically. Your role as a Senator should include ensuring accountability and transparency, not merely defending controversial projects,” dagdag niya.

Sumang-ayon naman si Assistant Majority Leader at Rep. Paolo Ortega ng La Union dito at sinabing, “Senator Pimentel’s defense of the Senate’s budgetary allocation on its new building is unnecessary. What we need is transparency and accountability. The question remains: why has the new Senate building’s budget ballooned to P23.3 billion from its original allocation of P8.9 billion?” 

“Senator Pimentel’s remarks are a distraction from the core issue. It’s about the responsible use of public funds. We, the Senate and the House, should all work together to ensure fiscal responsibility,” dagdag niya.

Matatandaang sinabi ni Pimentel na dapat tumutok ang mga nasabing kinatawan ng Kamara sa kanilang sariling paggasta bago punahin ang Senado. Aniya, “Their time and efforts are better spent in making sure that there is no wastage of public funds in the expenditure of the extra funds of the House of Representatives.”

Photo credit: Facebook/senateph, House of Representatives official website