“Show up or shut up.”
This was the message of Manila 6th District Representative Benny Abante Jr. to Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong for refusing to apologize to lawmakers and instead doubling down on broad accusations linking members of Congress to irregular flood control projects.
Abante, chair of the House Committee on Human Rights, said Magalong’s defiance insults the institution and maligns legislators who are focused on fulfilling their mandate as representatives of the people.
“He must do the honorable thing: appear at our hearings, name names, submit documents, and testify under oath.”
“Mayor Magalong says he will not apologize. Then he must do the honorable thing: appear at our hearings, name names, submit documents, and testify under oath,” the veteran legislator said.
“Sweeping accusations without bases accomplish nothing. If he wants to accomplish something tangible, then present concrete evidence. Then together we can hold the wrongdoers accountable,” the seasoned lawmaker added.
Abante warned that Magalong’s reckless words are unfairly and unnecessarily eroding trust in institutions like the House that also want to address corruption in flood control projects.
He pointed out that “Mayor Magalong does not have a monopoly of good intentions. We also want to find out who is profiting off the suffering of our kababayan.”
“Pero imbes na magtulungan tayo, sinasabi niyang moro-moro ang aming imbestigasyon; para bang lahat kaming kongresista ay kasabwat,” Abante said.
According to him, “these reckless claims defames over 300 members of the House. Words have weight, especially when they come from a fellow public official.”
Abante stressed that a tri-committee has already been convened to investigate alleged flood control anomalies and that Magalong is free to appear, present evidence, and put his statements on record.
“Matapang lang ata si Magalong pag kaharap ang media.”
“If he is truly concerned about the Filipino people, then let him have the courage to appear in Congress. Matapang lang ata si Magalong pag kaharap ang media,” he said.
Abante reiterated that the House remains committed to transparency and accountability, echoing Speaker Martin Romualdez’s assurance that credible witnesses will always be heard in the halls of Congress.
“Results beat rhetoric every time. If Mayor Magalong refuses to face the committee with evidence, then he is nothing more than an empty can – maingay pero walang laman,” he concluded.
