Manila 6th District Representative Benny Abante welcomed the election of Isabela 6th District Representative Faustino “Bojie” Dy III as the new Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Abante vowed to support Dy’s call for transparency and accountability in response to public clamor for reforms in the national budget process.
“I welcome the leadership of Speaker Bojie Dy and fully support his call for a House that is more transparent, more accountable, and more responsive to the needs of our people,” the veteran legislator said.
“His message was clear: our duty is not to protect each other, but to protect the Filipino people. This is a mission I fully embrace.”
“His message was clear: our duty is not to protect each other, but to protect the Filipino people. This is a mission I fully embrace,” the seasoned lawmaker added.
Abante said he was encouraged by Dy’s statement that under his leadership, no rank, no ally, and no office will be spared from accountability. The pastor-lawmaker agreed that “it is the only way we can begin to rebuild trust and restore faith in the House”.
He stressed that Dy’s call to strengthen oversight and fully cooperate with the Independent Commission on Infrastructure should be taken seriously by all members of Congress.
“Wala dapat tayong sinasanto.”
According to Abante, “if we are to show our people that we want to address the ills of corruption in the bureaucracy, we must show that we are willing to hold even our own colleagues accountable. Wala dapat tayong sinasanto.”
Citing the Bible, Abante reminded his colleagues that accountability is a moral as well as a political duty. “As it is written in Luke 12:48, ‘For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.’ We have been entrusted with much by the Filipino people—power, responsibility, and resources. It is only right that we be held accountable for how we use them.”
The House Human Rights panel chair also thanked outgoing Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez for his years of service and for ensuring a smooth transition of leadership.
Abante pointed out that “under Speaker Romualdez we were able to unearth painful truths about evils in our country like extrajudicial killings, POGOs, and illegal drugs. Those hearings allowed us to hear the voices of victims of vice and greed, and were the impetus for the filing of measures that we hope can prevent these crimes from being perpetrated again.”
“By stepping aside with dignity, he helped pave the way for an orderly transition and gave the House the opportunity to move forward. For that, he deserves our gratitude. Now it is time to unite under the leadership of Speaker Dy and so we in the House can work together to uplift our people’s welfare and advance their interests,” he stressed.
