Speaking the truth is not sedition: Kit
MANILA — Deputy Minority Leader Rep. Kit Belmonte on Tuesday challenged his fellow lawmakers in the Lower House to put the needs of the people ahead of politics.
“Our goal is not to follow this or that marching order because there are no marching orders higher than that of the Filipino people’s,” said the third-term congressman from the 6th district of Quezon City in his privilege speech.
Belmonte, who is also Liberal Party Secretary General, reminded his colleagues that speaking the truth is not sedition, as Vice President Leni Robredo, bishops and priests of the Catholic church, along with lawyers and vocal opposition personalities, were all threatened with sedition charges for being vocal against the administration’s murderous war on drugs and its subvervient attitude and actions in relation to China.
“Last I checked, ang katotohanan ay katotohanan pa rin, at hindi inciting to sedition,” Belmonte said. “Last I checked, hindi bawal magsalita. Last I checked, kasama sa tungkulin ng bawat mamamayan — lalo na tayong mga naglilingkod kinatawan dito sa Kongreso — na igiit ang tingin nilang tama; na makipagdebate sa isa’t isa o sa gobyerno, para maging mas makabuluhan ang mga desisyon ng ating pamahalaan.”
Belmonte further reminded members of the 304-strong body that they need to serve their constituents through key pending bills still to be acted upon.
“Nandiyan ang mga batas ukol sa mas maayos na mga classroom at pasahod sa mga teacher. Nandiyan ang mga batas na sisigurong kayang makipagsabayan ng graduate na Pinoy sa kahit na sino sa buong mundo, nandiyan ang mga batas na magbubukas ng mga bago at malikhaing trabaho at industriya sa Pilipinas. Nandiyan ang mga batas tungkol sa sahod ng barangay healthcare worker, mga clinic sa komunidad, mga ospital na sisigurong walang Pilipinong mamamatay sa sakit na puwedeng maiwasan. Nandiyan ang mga batas na nagbibigay ng katiyakan sa paninirahan. At nandiyan ang mga batas na talagang mag-aangat at magbibigay-lakas sa mamamayan.”
“These should be our real marching orders,” stressed Belmonte.
In the 17th Congress, Belmonte was able to help shepherd into law his pet bills on creating the Department of Housing, institutionalizing the conditional cash transfer program, and emergency health care.