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Published January 19, 2021, 5:58 PM The chief solon-investigator in the reported questionable deal between the Development Bank of the Philippines and the owners of the ABS-CBN that allegedly resulted in government losing P1.6 billion has asked accusers to produce the evidence that will support the allegations. This view shows the ABS-CBN network headquarters in Quezon City in the Metro Manila area. (Photo by Maria TAN / AFP / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) DIWA Partylist Rep. Michael Aglipay, chairman of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, aired this advise to initiators of the probe as blame throwing marred the legislative inquiry into the alleged anomaly that resulted in the supposed condonation of the loans of the Lopez Group by the state-owned government bank. ....
Published January 18, 2021, 10:06 PM The House of Representatives leadership on Monday stripped of committee assignments two staunch allies of former speaker and incumbent Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano who helped him form the new political bloc BTS, an acronym taken from the popular K-pop group. Rep. Mike Defensor and Rep. Lray Villafuerte After BTS fans took offense to the group for allegedly “politicizing” the image of their idols, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco’s leadership also showed his displeasure by relieving Reps. Michael T. Defensor (Anakalusugan Partylist) and LRay Villafuerte (NP, Camarines Sur) of vice chairmanship assignments. Defensor, who was recently sacked as chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts and Good Government, lost the vice chairmanship of five House panels – the Committees on Health, on Public Information, on Dangerous Drugs, and on Public Accounts. ....
Buhay Partylist Rep. Lito Atienza (FACEBOOK / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) Atienza, a staunch ally of incumbent Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, used the playful phrase in a statement Friday in which he criticized BTS for allegedly mishandling the House of Representatives’ oversight function when Taguig-Pateros Rep. Cayetano was still head honcho of the chamber. Atienza did not explain why he chose the vegetable ampalaya (bitter gourd) to describe Cayetano’s crew, but it can be inferred that he and House Senior Deputy Speaker Doy Leachon view the group the same way. Oriental Mindoro Rep. Leachon jokingly said Wednesday that the “BTS” in BTS coalition meant “Bitter Talaga Sila (They’re really bitter).” ....
January 14, 2021 Facebook/btsfanpageofficial A former speaker of the Philippines ’ House of Representatives has sparked outrage on social media after announcing his intent to form a new political grouping named after world-famous South Korean boy band BTS. Alan Peter Cayetano, an ally of President Rodrigo Duterte who was ousted as speaker in October, said he would form the BTS sa Kongreso (BTS in Congress) bloc with six fellow lawmakers – Representatives Luis Raymund “LRay” Villafuerte Jnr, Dan Fernandez, Raneo Abu, Mike Defensor, Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado and Fredenil Castro – even mimicking the number of members in the K-pop group. The bloc is expected to be formally introduced in Congress on Thursday. ....
Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano and Speaker Lord Allan Velasco Probinsyano Ako partylist Rep. Jose “Bonito” Singson lashed at Cayetano’s “BTS (Back to Service) sa Congress” coalition for acting as “spoiled brats” and for supposedly politicking. “Honestly, they acted like self-entitled, petulant children during their little presscon. They kept on emphasizing that they will continue to work as Congressmen, despite losing their Committee Chairmanships and positions. Since when is this a pre-requisite to work?,” he said in a statement issued after Cayetano’s group held a presser in Quezon City. “So taong bayan pa ang may utang na loob sa kanila dahil nagtratrabaho sila kahit wala silang special appointments? Talk about being spoiled brats!” ....