MANILA, Philippines – Kabayan party-list Rep. Harry Roque is facing a possible removal from his post after his own party-list launched an investigation against him for his "indecency" during a House inquiry.
Hounded by Kabayan board members, the party-list formed a three-man special investigation committee headed by Pastor Cesar Pabuayon and board members Pastor Peter Parrocho and lawyer Eduardo Robles to look into the "vulgar and sexist" remarks of Roque.
Pabuayon said that the line of questioning of Roque during the investigation of House committee on Justice into the proliferation of illegal drugs at New Bilibid Prison on November 24 harmed the image and interest of their party, known for their advocacy for equality and respect for the dignity of all people and classes.
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He noted that instead of focusing on the alleged links of then Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and her former driver and bodyguard Ronnie Dayan with the illegal drugs at Bilibid, Roque and other representatives feasted on the salacious details of the love affair between the two.
"We can ignore the actuations of these other congressmen, but we cannot tolerate the same from one who represents us," Pabuayon said.
"This internal matter is something very serious for us and must be swiftly resolved by all means and at all costs," he added.
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Roque was one of some members of the committee who drew flak for asking irrelevant questions on Dayan and for one time telling the witness, "Napakahilig mo naman magsalat."
The congressman, however, defended himself and insisted that their questions were asked to establish the fact that De Lima used Dayan in her alleged illegal activities.
He added that the life of government officials are an open book to the public.
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"Ang aking paninindigan, kapag ikaw ay isang public figure o taong gobyerno, wala kang pribadong buhay...Kapag ikaw ay pumasok ng public service, binigyan mo ng lisensiya ang publiko na busisiin ang pribado mong buhay kasi ang pribado mong pagkatao ay magkakaroon ng impact kung paano ka maninilbihan sa bayan," Roque earlier said in an interview over dzMM.
"Kung ikaw ay imoral sa iyong private life, siguradong magiging imoral ka rin sa iyong paglilingkod sa bayan," he added.