A HOUSE leader on Thursday debunked speculations that a recent dinner at Malacañang, attended by President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr. and more than 200 congressmen, was connected to impeachment complaints filed against Vice President Sara Duterte.
House Deputy Majority Leader and La Union 1st District Rep. Paolo Ortega V clarified that the event was a long-planned gathering aimed at fostering camaraderie and demonstrating support for the President’s administration.
“Wala pong kahit anumang katotohanan ang mga lumabas o na-speculate o iniisip ng ibang tao. [‘Yun po ay] sobrang simple na salo-salo lang at ang highlight ay nung prinesinta ang resolution of support ng House,” Ortega said during a press conference.
“Karamihan nga po ng nabasa ko sa Twitter, kabaliktaran po ng totoong nangyari,” he added.
According to Ortega, the dinner meeting had been in the works for nearly two years but faced repeated delays due to scheduling conflicts.
“Noong kakaupo po ng ating Pangulo, noong first six months niya actually, he met with the Solid North congressmen. Last year, ang alam ko, we tried to schedule a meeting with the President na parang salo-salo, not necessarily a Christmas dinner lang, pero hindi po natuloy. Siyempre napaka-hectic ng schedule,” Ortega explained.
The event finally took place on Dec. 4, starting at around 6 p.m., with President Marcos arriving 30 minutes later.
After Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez delivered welcome remarks, he presented a resolution of support that had been approved earlier by the House in plenary.
“The President was very touched at dala malaking bagay sa kanya na may suporta po sa kanya ang House of Representatives,” Ortega said, adding that the gathering concluded with a simple dinner and light conversation lasting about an hour.
Ortega said House’s resolution of support served as a symbol of solidarity with the President, especially in light of recent threats and challenges.
He noted that such resolutions are common in local governments, making them even more significant when directed at the President.
“Sa local government nga po ‘pag may resolution of congratulations dinadala pa namin sa pinagbibigyan namin. E ano pa po kung Pangulo ang binigyan ng resolution of support? Siyempre may weight din po ‘yun,” he pointed out.
The threats cited by Ortega included Vice President Duterte’s recent disturbing admission that she had arranged for an assassin to target President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Romualdez if she were to be assassinated.
The Vice President’s remarks triggered heightened security protocols for the President and intensified scrutiny of her actions and motives.
Ortega reiterated that the dinner had no political undertones and did not include discussions about the impeachment complaints filed against Duterte.
“Hindi nga po napag-usapan ‘yung pulitika. More on ang nasabi ng ating Pangulo, kung ano ang mga trabaho na ginagawa ng legislative at ng executive, magtrabaho lang tayo,” he said.
When asked if President Marcos had reiterated his earlier appeal for lawmakers to refrain from supporting the impeachment complaints, Ortega simply responded, “Wala po.”
Vice President Duterte faces two impeachment complaints, accusing her, among others, of misusing ₱612.5 million in confidential funds and of threatening the President and other officials.
