Palace washes hands off ‘political intramurals’ in House

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo made this remark after Andaya said he was leaving his post to “complete one major unfinished business left in our legislative calendar: the passage of the 2019 national budget”. (File Photo: Office of the Presidential Spokesperson/Facebook)

MANILA — Malacañang on Monday insisted that it was not involved in the decision of Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. to step down as House Majority Leader of the House of Representatives.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo made this remark after Andaya said he was leaving his post to “complete one major unfinished business left in our legislative calendar: the passage of the 2019 national budget”.

Andaya was replaced by Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro who automatically assumed the leadership of the House committee on rules while Andaya was appointed as the new chair of the House appropriations committee.

“The Executive has nothing to do with the political intramurals happening in the House of Representatives. We respect its independence, including its internal rules and affairs,” Panelo said in a statement.

Andaya is currently leading a congressional inquiry into alleged irregularities in the proposed 2019 national budget.

The lawmaker accused Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno of inserting PHP75 billion worth of flood control projects into the 2019 national budget.

The probe has caused a rift between the Executive Branch and Andaya. However, the former has continued to vouch for Diokno’s integrity.

Panelo asked Andaya to refrain from “besmirching” Diokno’s image and instead file a case against him if he felt the need to do so.

“Now that Camarines Sur 1st District Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. formally yielded his post, we call on him to cease from waging a media propaganda war to besmirch the image and reputation of a member of the Cabinet before the court of public opinion,” Panelo said.

“If he has problems with the current Budget Secretary, we hope that he would look for an appropriate venue by just filing a case against him in the court of law,” he added.

Panelo, meanwhile, expressed hope that there would be better ties between the Executive Branch and the Congress with Castro as new House Majority Leader.

“To the new House Majority Leader, Capiz 2nd District Rep. Fredenil Castro, we wish him all the best in his new undertaking as we express confidence in better Executive-Congress ties with him at the helm,” Panelo said.

The government has been operating under a reenacted budget since January 1 this year after Congress failed to pass the 2019 national budget on time due to allegations of “pork” insertions.