00:00 Ranking lawmakers defend the House of Representatives after former President Rodrigo Duterte questioned
00:06 the institution's integrity.
00:08 In a statement, political party leaders say it is unfortunate that Duterte is attacking
00:13 the House after it supported his legislative agenda as president.
00:17 They say Duterte should present evidence of wrongdoing to the proper authorities instead
00:22 of maligning the House.
00:24 Lawmakers also slammed Duterte for the threats he uttered against ACT Teacher's party list
00:28 representative Franz Castro of the Makabayan bloc.
00:32 House Secretary General Reginald Velasco says lawmakers not only felt offended but also
00:37 threatened by Duterte's statements.
00:39 "The relationship of the institution with the former president is not a problem.
00:46 Now, because of that interview, he said the most corrupt agency, institution is the House
01:09 of Representatives, and the former president is a woman, Castro.
01:16 So, that's painful."
01:20 Velasco insists there's no conflict between the House and Duterte.
01:24 But he says the former president's tirades might be connected to the misunderstanding
01:28 between his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, and Speaker Martin Romualdez.
01:33 The vice president used to be the chair of Romualdez's party, La Casa CMD.
01:38 She resigned after former president and now-pampanga congresswoman Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was
01:44 replaced as deputy speaker.
01:46 The House recently decided to realign confidential funds, including allocations of the Office
01:51 of the Vice President and Education Department, to agencies focused on the West Philippine
01:56 Sea.
01:57 "I can't say it's a conflict.
01:58 It could be a misunderstanding.
01:59 The problem is the reaction of the group of people who are against the House of Representatives.
02:00 We don't know where the attacks in Congress came from because the one who spoke was the
02:17 father."
02:18 In a statement, Castro thanked the House leadership for supporting her in the face of Duterte's
02:23 threats.
02:24 Velasco says the House is ready to provide security to Castro and other lawmakers facing
02:29 threats should they ask for it.
02:31 Sienna Arcangel, CNN, Philippines.
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