Tinanggihan ni Davao 1st District Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte ang imbitasyon ng Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) para dumalo sa kanilang pagdinig.
Ayon sa ipinadalang sagot ng opisina ni Rep. Pulong noong Miyerkules, Disyembre 3, mula sa liham sa kanila ng ICI noong Lunes, Disyembre 1, tinatanggap niya ang imbestigasyon ng ICI sa flood control projects sa Davao City ngunit hindi raw niya matatanggap ang “Invitation to Appear” nito.
Naglatag din siya ng anim na mga dahilan kung bakit hindi umano niya mapapayagan ang imbitasyon ng ICI sa pumunta sa pagdinig nito.
Aniya, wala raw kapangyarihan o hurisdiksyon ang ICI sa kaniya bilang miyembro siya ng Kongreso.
‘Sila ay mga bayani!’ VP Sara, binigyang-pugay legasiya, alaala ng SAF 44
“I am a sitting member of Congress. Considering that ICI is a creation of President Marcos, Jr. per E.O. No. 94, the ICI appears without power nor jurisdiction over me. The Constitutional Separation of Powers bars ICI, which is part of the Executive branch. from including me in your executive mandate. Your power is purely limited to the executive branch,” pagsisimula niya.
Pangalawang dahilan ni Pulong, wala raw legal na basehan ang ICI sa pag-iimbita sa kaniya at malinaw umano itong “vague” at “ambiguous.”
“[E]ven then, there appears to be no factual and legal bases for your invitation. Your invitation is vague and ambiguous absent any particulars or details of matters in the possession of ICI. It is part of due process, fairness and respect,” ‘ika niya.
Pangatlo, maaari naman daw kumuha ng ICI ng mga kinakailangan nilang impormasyon mula sa iba’t ibang mga sangay na ahensya ng pamahalaan.
“[I]f at all, the executive, particularly the DPWH, DBM, DOJ, DENR, DICT, PCAB, DTI and other relevant government functionaries are more than enough to satisfy your information gathering and mandate. As alter ego of President Marcos, Jr., you can rightfully secure any information or document that you may need in connection with the subject projects from them,” diin niya.
Pang-apat na dahilan ni Pulong, hindi raw siya miyembro ng House Appropriations Committee sa pagitan ng mga taong 2019 hanggang 2022.
“[S]uffice it to say that I was not a member of the House Appropriations Committee from "2019-2022". I am therefore incompetent to answer your desired queries,” giit niya.
Nagawa ring irekomenda ni Pulong sa imbestigahan din ng ICI si Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., at ang pamilya nito, maging sina dating House Speaker Martin Romualdez at ganoon din umano sa mga flood control projects sa Region I at Region VIII.
“[S]ince ICI was created by President Marcos, Jr. who has been implicated by one of the major players-ex-Cong. Elizalde Co, I feel that ICI must immediately investigate President Marcos, Jr., his family and ex-Speaker Romualdez forthwith, most especially flood control and other infrastructure projects in Regions I and VIII from 2022 to 2025, and incidentally all projects prior thereto from 2000 to 2025,” suhestiyon niya.
Dagdag pa niya, “It is my impression that the ICI was created by President Marcos to save himself, his family ex-Speaker Romualdez and ilks, and provide a diversion cover up for their misdeeds.”
Panghuling dahilan ni Pulong, dapat din daw na bigyang-pansin ng ICI ang mga rebelasyon ni Co sa kaniyang social media account at huwag silang gamitin kasama ng kaniyang kapatid na si Vice President Sara Duterte.
“[T]he revelations of ex-Cong Elizalde Co is indeed very revealing, as it is shocking. It cannot be ignored. They are exposés that need investigating. To use me and my sister VP Sara to divert the truth, passing the blame and mislead the Filipino people is highly unacceptable and deplorable,” ayon kay Pulong.
“I view ICI as President Marcos Jr.'s tool for pure political propaganda to weaken, or worse destroy the name of VP Sara, FPRRD and our Duterte family's good name. It is a continuing political propaganda and harassment against our family with a view to the 2028 Presidential, national and local elections,” pagtatapos pa niya.
Samantala, wala pang inilalabas na pahayag ang ICI kaugnay sa pagtangging ito ni Pulong sa kanila.
MAKI-BALITA: Pulong, tinanggap hamon ni Tinio na imbestigahan flood control projects sa Davao
MAKI-BALITA: 'Hindi kami tanga!' Pulong 'di kumbinsido sa isinauling ₱110M ni Alcantara
Mc Vincent Mirabuna/Balita
