AYON kay House Assistant Majority Leader at Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre na ang kritisismo ni Senador Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa laban sa Tingog Party-list at sa partisipasyon nito sa isang health development project ay maaaring tangka upang itago ang kanyang pananagutan sa extrajudicial killings (EJKs) na naganap noong kampanya kontra droga ng administrasyong Duterte.

Ang pahayag ni Acidre ay tugon sa privilege speech ng senador na nagtataas ng mga isyung etikal at pampulitika hinggil sa memorandum of agreement (MOA) na pinirmahan ng PhilHealth, Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), at Tingog.

Kinuwestiyon din ni Acidre ang timing at intensyon ng mga pahayag ng senador.

“It is worth asking why Senator Dela Rosa is so fixated on attacking this program, which is designed to uplift underserved communities,” ani Acidre.

“Could this be an attempt to deflect attention from the House investigation into extrajudicial killings during his time as Philippine National Police chief?” tanong pa niya.

Ayon kay Acidre, ang biglaang interes ni Dela Rosa sa usapin ng governance at ethics ay tila isang “smokescreen” upang pagtakpan ang sarili niyang isyu sa pananagutan kaysa sa totoong kritisismo sa MOA.

Hinimok niya ang senador na unawain ang tunay na layunin ng inisyatibo.

“Instead of politicizing a well-intentioned initiative, Senator Dela Rosa should focus on addressing the lingering questions about his past and how it has affected the lives of countless Filipinos. Tingog, for its part, remains committed to serving the people, especially those in rural areas who have long been neglected,” aniya.

Binanggit din ni Acidre na ang kritisismo ng senador sa partisipasyon ng Tingog sa health development project ay “misinformed” at nakakabahala, lalo na sa konteksto ng kasaysayan at motibo ni Dela Rosa.

Ang nasabing programa, ayon kay Acidre, ay may layuning tugunan ang kakulangan sa healthcare infrastructure, partikular sa mga rural at underserved na lugar.

“Tingog Party-list’s participation in this initiative is rooted in its mission to improve access to healthcare, especially in underserved and rural communities. This initiative is not about power or control but about facilitating solutions for local government units (LGUs) to enhance public healthcare services,” paliwanag niya.

Idinagdag niya na ang papel ng Tingog sa MOA ay tumutulong lamang sa mga LGU na magkaroon ng access sa mga mekanismo ng DBP, tulad ng fiscal training, capacity building, at iba pang inisyatiba, at nagbibigay din ng direktang medical assistance sa mga pasyente.

“Tingog Party-list does not handle funds, manage projects, or encroach upon the functions of the Department of Health (DOH) or the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). These agencies remain central to national healthcare programs,” giit ni Acidre.

Binigyang-diin din niya na hindi binabalewala ng MOA ang mga ahensyang ito.

“The MOA does not bypass these agencies. Tingog complements, not replaces, their mandates,” paliwanag ng mambabatas.

Sa usapin ng politicization at legalidad, binigyang-linaw ni Acidre na ang partisipasyon ng Tingog ay nakabatay sa serbisyo, hindi sa pulitika.

“Tingog’s involvement is grounded in service, not politics. The MOA adheres to all legal protocols. The financial arrangements are strictly between DBP and LGUs, and no funds are transferred to Tingog. The ethics of this partnership should be measured by its intent and outcomes, not by Dela Rosa’s baseless speculations.” aniya.

“We call on the public to see through this distraction and focus on what truly matters: ensuring that healthcare reaches every Filipino, regardless of political noise. Public service should always prioritize the welfare of the people, not personal or political agendas,” wika pa ni Acidre.