黑料社

MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has assured Filipinos that the House of Representatives has fought the forces of darkness and evil, noting that no ambition nor powerful person is above the Constitution and the law.

In his closing speech before Congress adjourned its session on Wednesday, Romualdez said the House has been exercising its oversight function to uphold the people鈥檚 welfare.

鈥淲e have enacted reforms that resonate beyond the walls of Congress鈥攔eforms that will be felt in the homes of the ordinary Filipino, in the aspirations of the working class, in the dreams of the youth, and in the resolve of the underserved. Isinulong natin ang interes ng sambayanan. Lumaban sa mga puwersa ng kadiliman. Hindi umatras sa kampon ng kasamaan (We pursued matters of public interest. We fought the forces of darkness. We did not falter against the henchmen of evil.),鈥� Romualdez said.

READ: House impeaches VP Sara Duterte, fast-tracking transmittal to Senate

鈥淲e have exercised our oversight functions with boldness and resolve, exposing inefficiencies, dismantling injustices, and holding accountable those who betray the public trust. No institution is greater than the Republic. No ambition is above the Constitution. And no one鈥攏o matter how powerful鈥攊s immune from the will of the people,鈥� he added.

READ: First impeachment complaint vs VP Sara filed at House

According to Romualdez, the House did not look away from abuses that people were complaining about, and instead faced the truth 鈥渘o matter how difficult.鈥�

He also warned those who would try to manipulate the power given to them: history will always be present to judge their actions.

鈥淚n these hallowed halls, we did not turn a blind eye. We did not look the other way. Instead, we faced the truth, no matter how difficult, because leadership is not about privilege鈥攊t is about responsibility.

鈥淭o those who believe they can manipulate power without consequence, let this House be a reminder: Kasaysayan ang huhusga sa atin. At ang kasaysayan ay walang puwang sa mga duwag. Ang Kongresong ito ay hindi magpapagamit sa alinmang interes, maliban sa interes ng sambayanan. Ang tama, ipaglalaban. Ang mali, itatama,鈥� he added.

鈥淭o those who believe they can manipulate power without consequence, let this House be a reminder: History will judge us. And in history, there is no space for the coward. This Congress did not allow itself to be used by whatever interest, except for the interest of the country. We fight for what is correct. We correct what is wrong.)

Romualdez also touted the achievements of the House, including the passage of 75 bills that became national laws, and 112 local laws鈥�30 of which were priority bills of the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council.

Still, the Speaker said the work is not finished yet.

鈥淵et, for all that we have accomplished, our task remains unfinished. As the 19th Congress nears its conclusion, let it be clear: our commitment does not wane with time. It strengthens. It sharpens,鈥� he said.

鈥淢arami na tayong nagawa. Pero hindi pa tapos ang ating misyon. Umaasa pa rin ang ating mga kababayan sa pangakong dala ng Bagong Pilipinas (We have done a lot. But we are not finished with our mission. Our people still expect a lot from the promises brought by a New Philippines),鈥� he added.

Romualdez鈥檚 closing speech came hours after he presided over the session to tackle the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Just before 3:45 p.m., a fourth impeachment complaint was verified and sent immediately to the Senate after 215 lawmakers endorsed it. Under the 1987 Constitution, an impeachment complaint could be forwarded to the Senate for a trial if over one-third of all House members鈥�102 out of 306鈥攈ave signed and endorsed the petition.

Issues cited in the previous impeachment raps against Duterte鈥攈er threats against the President and other officials and confidential fund (CF) issues with her offices鈥攚ere used as grounds for the fourth complaint.

Copies of the fourth impeachment complaint showed that there were seven articles of impeachment:

1. betrayal of public trust, commission of high crimes due to her threats to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez
2. betrayal of public trust and graft and corruption due to misuse of CFs within the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Office of the Vice President (OVP)
3. betrayal of public trust and bribery within the DepEd
4. violation of the 1987 Constitution and betrayal of public trust due to unexplained wealth and failure to disclose assets
5. commission of high crimes, due to involvement in extrajudicial killings in the drug war
6. betrayal of public trust due to alleged destabilization plots and high crimes of sedition and insurrection, and
7. betrayal of acts due to her unbecoming conduct as Vice President.