HINIMOK ni Deputy Speaker Yasser Balindong ng Lanao del Sur si Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong na humingi ng paumanhin sa Moro community dahil sa paggamit nito ng salitang “moro-moro” upang maliitin ang imbestigasyon ng Kamara kaugnay ng flood control projects.

Binigyang-diin ni Balindong na bagama’t likas sa demokrasya ang pagkakaiba ng opinyon, hindi ito dapat gamitin bilang kapalit ng respeto sa kultura at sa katotohanang nakaugat sa kasaysayan.

“Mayor Magalong may raise his concerns, but to use ‘Moro-Moro’ as shorthand for sham or deception is unacceptable,” punto ni Balindong.

Dagdag pa ng mambabtas, “The term is not harmless. It carries with it a legacy of distortion and vilification of the Moro people. To trivialize that history is deeply offensive.”

Pinaliwanag ng mambabatas na ang Moro-Moro ay isang dula noong panahon ng mga Espanyol na ginamit upang maliitin at insultuhin ang mga Muslim.

“For us Moros, it is more than a word—it is a reminder of centuries of prejudice,” giit ni Balindong. “To invoke it in this context is to disparage not just the House inquiry, but our people as well.”

Giit ni Balindong, bilang lider ay nararapat lamang na ipakita ni Magalong ang pagpapakumbaba sa pamamagitan ng pagbawi sa kanyang pahayag.

“As a leader, he is expected to exercise discernment and respect. An apology is necessary—not only to the House, but to the Moro people whose heritage was maligned,” wika ni Balindong.

Kaugnay nito, pinagtibay ng Deputy Speaker ang kredibilidad ng isinasagawang imbestigasyon ng Kamara, na aniya ay nasa paunang yugto pa lamang.

“The House is not engaged in theatrics. It is fulfilling its constitutional duty to ensure that public funds are spent properly,” aniya. “To call it a charade demeans the institution of Congress and does a disservice to the Filipino people.”

Itinatag kamakailan ang Tri-Committee na binubuo ng Public Accounts, Good Government and Public Accountability, at Public Works and Highways—para pamunuan ang pagsisiyasat sa P545-bilyong flood control program.

Bagama’t wala pang pormal na hearing, nauna nang nagbigay ng briefing ang Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) sa House committee on public accounts.

Idiniin ni Balindong na ang proseso ay isinasagawa nang may kalinawan, katarungan at pananagutan.