House probe set on media network’s P1.8B Speaker’s travel fund claim

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THE House of Representatives will investigate the Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) after one of its hosts claimed that Speaker Romualdez has spent P1.8 billion in just a year for his trips.

The plenary yesterday directed the Committee on Legislative Franchises to probe SMNI after Quezon Rep. David Suarez urged the lower house in a privilege speech to direct the panel “in the exercise of its inherent oversight function, to investigate this matter immediately and other similar measures pending with the committee, including this personal and collective privilege.”

Congress has the sole power to grant and revoke legislative franchises.

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Suarez was referring to SMNI’s “Laban Kasama ng Bayan” program host Jeffrey Celis who alleged that a “source” in Congress supposedly told him that Romualdez spent P1.8 billion for travel in just a year.

It was in the same network that former president Rodrigo Duterte lambasted the House leadership for stripping his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte of confidential funds under the proposed P5.768 trillion national budget for 2024.

In a statement, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said SMNI’s “allegations are a clear example of fake news, designed to mislead the public and tarnish the reputation of the Speaker and the entire House of Representatives as an institution.”

“We urge the public and the media to exercise caution and verify facts before sharing such baseless claims. The House of Representatives is committed to transparency and accountability, and the Office of the Secretary General can confirm that such a bloated amount for the Speaker’s travel expenses does not exist,” Velasco said.

Velasco said the House “is dedicated to serving the nation with integrity and will continue to focus on its legislative duties, rather than being distracted by unfounded rumors and misinformation.”

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