BAHAGI lamang ng pulitika ang mga paratang mula sa mga nagpakilalang dating Marines, na layong guluhin ang nalalapit na impeachment hearings laban kay Vice President Sara Duterte, pahayag ng mga lider ng Kamara de Representantes nitong Miyerkules.

“The timing is suspect. (The allegations are) intended to discredit the members of Quad Comm and, now, the justice committee which will hear the impeachment of the VP,” sinabi ni Manila Rep. Joel Chua.

“Pag-uusapan po namin ’yan,” ani Chua, na chair ng House committee on good government and public accountability, nang tanungin kung magsasampa ba sila ng kaso laban sa mga nag-akusa.

Sa nakaraang Kongreso, ang multi-panel na House quad committee and at ang kanyang komite ay nagsagawa ng malawak na imbestigasyon sa umano’y maling paggamit ni Duterte ng P612.5 milyon na confidential at intelligence funds ng Office of the Vice President at ng Department of Education noong siya ang kalihim nito.

Sinabi naman ni Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V ng La Union na dapat tigilan ng mga kritiko ang pagpapakalat ng mga kuwento na walang ebidensiya. Iginiit niyang walang basehan ang mga paratang.

“Mahirap talaga kapag meron kang sariling mundo. Dilulu, dilulu ang tawag sa mga ganyan. Hindi natin masyadong binibigyan ng pansin kasi wala namang katotohanan ’yun. ’Yun lang po, ’wag tayong dilulu,” ani Ortega.

Aniya pa, ang mga alegasyon na pinapakalat ay walang basehan at hindi dapat seryosohin. Binigyang-diin niya na ang mga usaping pampubliko ay dapat nakabatay sa katotohanan at responsableng pahayag, hindi sa espekulasyon.

Samantala, sinabi ni Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr., ang chair ng House committee on human rights, siya ay pinupuntirya dahil sa kanyang patuloy na pagbatikos sa umano’y extrajudicial killings noong administrasyon ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte.

“The accusation that I accepted suitcases of cash is completely false, baseless, and malicious. I categorically deny it. This is simply the product of politics. I am being targeted because of the positions I have taken and the stands I have refused to compromise, particularly with regard to obtaining justice for the victims of extrajudicial killings,” aniya.

“I stand by my record. I stand by my principles. I will not be deterred by fabricated attacks, and will continue to fight for justice for our countrymen,” dagdag ni Abante.

Nagbigay rin siya ng sipi mula sa Bibliya: “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.”

“I believe when the facts are laid bare, the truth will speak for itself — and those who chose falsehood will have to answer not only to the public, but to their own conscience, and to our God,” saad pa ni Abante.

Para naman kay Rep. Julienne Baronda ng lone district ng Iloilo City, hindi nabanggit ang pangalan niya sa kahit anong flood control scam investigation.

“I choose not to engage in falsehoods and will instead pray for truth and fairness to prevail. For clarity, my name was never mentioned in the inquiries conducted by the House, the Senate, or by the ICI,” aniya.

“The only reason I can think of for my name being dragged into this latest political circus is my association with a local personality who was someone critical of the previous administration and who is helping me navigate local politics,” sinabi pa ni Baronda.

Ayon kay Baronda, may tiwala ito “in the discernment and wisdom of the Ilonggo people to see matters clearly and judge based on truth.”