House OKs resolution seeking ouster of peace adviser

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives called on Presidential Adviser for the Peace Process (OPAPP) Teresita Deles to resign after allegedly insulting a female lawmaker during the plenary deliberations on the national budget.

Congressmen collectively approved a House Resolution calling on Deles to resign after she allegedly insulted Lanao del Norte Rep. Fatima Aliah Dimaporo at the sidelines of the budget deliberations at the plenary.

The House was about to resume deliberations on the proposed P234.8-million budget for the OPAPP when congressmen took the floor to criticize Deles.

Sulu Rep. Tupay Loong said Deles insulted and demeaned Dimaporo, who was merely seeking clarification during a break on the deliberations of the OPAPP budget.

Deles was at the plenary along with other officials of the agency when lawmakers began hitting her.

In her letter to House Minority Leader and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, the US-educated Dimaporo said she spoke with Deles on various issues regarding the peace process in Mindanao.

Dimaporo said Deles even raised her voice and “was defensive, bordering on hostile” at one point in front of other people.

Dimaporo said Deles “started to get personal” and insinuated that she was intentionally delaying the budget hearings for the Office of the President.

Deles also asked why Dimaporo was asking questions on the floor when nobody was listening anyway.

“She (Deles) cut me off, saying that she wished that before I had spoken to her, that I read up on her background. She told me to read her books,” Dimaporo said.

She said she opted to remain respectful and even sent a text message to her seeking a discussion.

Deles, for her part, issued a statement saying she was “disheartened” over the passage of the House Resolution calling for her resignation.

“Congresswoman Dimaporo and I had a cordial exchange of ideas on an issue that is close to our hearts,” Deles said.

“I was very glad to see that there is a young intelligent Muslim woman leader who shares my passion for the peace process,” she said, referring to Dimaporo.

Deles said Dimaporo even sent her a text message thanking her for her replies during their conversation.

She said they agreed to continue their discussions over the peace process.

Davao del Sur Rep. Marc Douglas Cagas, however, was not convinced and even moved to slash the budget of the OPAPP to only one peso.

“Let us not allow such arrogance to happen in our House, not in our House,” Cagas said.

Lagman added Deles “not only insulted and demeaned Dimaporo, she likewise insulted and demeaned the entire Muslim representatives in this country.”

Maguindanao Rep. Simeon Datumanong said “if there is still respect for the integrity of this institution, then why had the proper approach not been made.”

Datumanong made a motion for the suspension of the deliberation of OPAPP’s budget until the matter was settled.

As more and more lawmakers stood up to denounce Deles, the session was suspended a couple of times to have the matter resolved as it was already past midnight with the budget measure pending approval.

The House leadership at that time was anxious to pass the proposed P1.645-trillion national budget for 2011 and the major hurdle was on the controversial P21-billion conditional cash transfer program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

It was agreed to tackle first the DSWD budget that was approved at around 2 a.m.

But prior to the approval, Loong put forward the resolution seeking the resignation of Deles and was seconded by Cebu Rep. Eduardo Gullas.

Gullas told the floor that he had the privilege of working with Dimaporo’s grandfather and father in previous Congresses.

He said the issue transcends whether a House member subjected to insults was a Christian or a Muslim or was from Luzon, Visayas or Mindanao.

Gullas said it is the right of Congress to interpellate any head of any agency, especially during budget deliberations.

“I believe, Mr. Speaker, that institutional integrity of the chamber has been impinged...we should not let this pass,” he said.

When the resolution was approved, Deles was seen taking a drink from a bottle of water. She later left the hall to take a breather.

When asked by reporters what she intended to do next, she merely replied: “I serve at the pleasure of the President.”

Deles denied that she raised her voice at Dimaporo and showed reporters the text message of the lady lawmaker seeking more discussions with her.

House Majority Leader and Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali Gonzales said he regretted the turn of events but said the budget must not be held hostage by the incident.

“When we have to choose between a Cabinet official and the budget, we will save the budget,” Gonzales said.

Gonzales said the House resolution would be submitted to President Aquino.