MANILA, Philippines — Malacanang on Wednesday said that it had nothing to do with the removal of Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co as House Committee on Appropriations chairperson.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin made the pronouncement at the Department of Budget and Management’s head office in Manila during the media launch of the Open Government Partnership and the Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting.
“Naku wala, wala kami kuwan diyan kasi executive kami (No, we do not have anything to do with that because we are under the executive branch),” said Bersamin in a chance interview with reporters when asked if the Palace had any hand in the removal of Co.
Asked if he then had any opinion on the development, Bersamin responded: “I have no opinion on that. It’s the discretion of the Congress.”
It was only on Monday when the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations chairperson, previously held by Co, was suddenly declared vacant.
It was President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s son, Senior Deputy Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Sandro Marcos who moved to declare the position vacant, which was then approved by the President’s cousin, Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Meanwhile, no replacement for Co has yet been named.